Carpal tunnel

Carpal tunnel

Infobox Anatomy
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = canalis carpi
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Caption2 = Transverse section across the wrist and digits. (The median nerve is the yellow dot near the center. The carpal tunnel is not labeled, but the circular structure surrounding the median nerve is visible.)
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DorlandsPre = c_04
DorlandsSuf = 12208551
In the human wrist there is a sheath of tough connective tissue (the flexor retinaculum) which envelops and protects several structures. The carpal tunnel is the space between this sheath (above) and the bones (below) making up the wrist and hand (carpal bones).

Contents

* Tendons of the following muscles (not the muscles themselves):
** flexor digitorum profundus
** flexor digitorum superficialis
** flexor pollicis longus

Some sources also include the flexor carpi radialis,cite web |url=http://www.med.mun.ca/anatomyts/msk/wrist.htm |title=The wrist joint. |accessdate=2008-01-17 |format= |work=] although it is more precise to state that it travels in the flexor retinaculum which covers the carpal tunnel, rather than running in the tunnel itself.

* Nerves:
** Median nerve between tendons of Flexor digitorum profundus and Flexor digitorum superficialis

Clinical significance

The term 'carpal tunnel' is also used quite commonly to refer to 'carpal tunnel syndrome' which is a condition where the median nerve is compressed within the tunnel and causes pain and/or numbness of the wrist/hand, never proven to be the result of repetitive motion such as painting or typing. It has been shown to be associated with obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, pregnancy, family history, rheumatoid arthritis and wrist shape. It can be associated with certain fractures of the forearm and wrist. Work relatedness is less than is currently thought by the lay public and by non-hand surgeons. Even work that has high force and high repetitions is only partially related to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is important because the median nerve can be compressed in cases such as the following:
*Carpal tunnel syndrome
*Wrist dislocations
*Fractures around the wrist

ee also

* tarsal tunnel

References

External links

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Look at other dictionaries:

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