Capitate

Description

Normal anatomy of the carpal bones. Diagram of the wrist (frontal view) shows the eight carpal bones and the three carpal arcs (Gilula arcs), which are shown as pink (arc I), blue (arc II), and red (arc III) lines. C (capitate), H (hamate), L (lunate), P (pisiform), S (scaphoid), Tm (trapezium), Td (trapezoid), Tr (triquetrum)

Wrist radiograph with carpal bones labeled

Capitate-hamate coalition. Coalition of the capitate bone and hamate bone of the left wrist.

Names

• Capitate
• Os capitatum
• Capitate carpal bone
• Central carpal bone
• Middle wrist bone

General

• The largest of the carpal bones.
• Located at the center of the distal carpal row.
• It has a protected position in the carpus making isolated fractures unusual.

Anatomic Description

• Proximal surface is rounded
• Distal end has a triangular shape
• The palmar surface is slightly convex.
• The Capitate fossa is a concavity on the radial aspect in which the Scaphoid articulates.

Articulations

• Scaphoid and Lunate articulates with the proximal surface.
• Base of third metacarpal articulates with the distal surface.
• Trapezoid articulates with the lateral surface.
• Hamate articulates with the medial surface.

Ligament Attachments

• radio-scapho-capitate
• scapho-capitate
• triquetr-ocapitate
• trapezio-capitate
• capito-hamate

Vascular Supply

• The dorsal intercarpal and dorsal basal metacarpal arches

Innervation

• Anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve
• Posterior interosseous branch of the radial nerve
• Dorsal and the deep branches of the ulnar nerve

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Clinical Significance

• Capitate Fracture
• Perilunate Dislocation
• Carpal Fracture

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See Also

• Hand and Wrist Anatomy (Main)
• Hand And Wrist Anatomy
• Wrist Pain (Main)

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