[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Upper limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/upper-limb/) › Hamate [Skeletal system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/skeletal-system/) · [Upper limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/upper-limb/) # Hamate The hamate is a wrist bone on the little-finger side of the second row; its hook can break when a bat, club or racket handle strikes the palm. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=upper_limb&select=hamate&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is A wrist bone on the little-finger side with a hook felt in the palm. ## What it does One of the eight carpal bones that let the wrist bend and carry load to the forearm. ## Key points - Hook of hamate fracture: in golf, baseball and racket sports when the handle strikes the palm; deep hypothenar pain, often missed on routine X-rays - The hook bounds Guyon's canal laterally and the carpal tunnel medially; the deep branch of the ulnar nerve curves around its base - The flexor tendons of the ring and little fingers glide against the hook; a nonunion can fray or rupture them ## Key facts **Joints with** Lunate, triquetrum, capitate, 4th–5th metacarpals **Landmarks** Hook (hamulus): lateral wall of Guyon's canal, attachment of the flexor retinaculum ## Relations **In front** Hook with the flexor retinaculum and the pisohamate ligament; origins of the flexor digiti minimi and [opponens digiti minimi](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/opponens-digiti-minimi/) **Medial** Guyon's canal with the [ulnar nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ulnar-nerve/) and [ulnar artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ulnar-artery/), which divide into superficial and deep branches beside the hook **Lateral** [Capitate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/capitate/); on the radial side of the hook, the [carpal tunnel](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/carpal-tunnel/) with the FDS and [FDP tendons](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-digitorum-profundus-tendons/) **Above** [Triquetrum](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/triquetrum/) and, in many wrists, the [lunate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lunate/) **Below** Bases of the 4th and 5th metacarpals, a joint mobile enough to let the ring and little fingers cup the palm ## How to find it The hook is felt by deep pressure in the hypothenar eminence, about 2 cm distal and radial to the [pisiform](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pisiform/): with the thumb's IP joint over the pisiform and the thumb pointed at the index web, the tip of the thumb lands on it. ## Examination - Hook of hamate pull test: resisted flexion of the ring and little fingers with the wrist in ulnar deviation causes pain when the hook is fractured ## On imaging A carpal tunnel view (wrist extended, beam along the palm) or an oblique view in supination shows the hook; CT is the most reliable. On the PA view the hook shows as a ring (the 'eye'); a missing or blurred ring suggests a fracture. ## Clinical notes - Painful nonunion of the hook is commonly treated by excising the fragment - Hamate body fractures often accompany fracture-dislocations of the 4th and 5th carpometacarpal joints after a punch - The deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve can be irritated by a hook fracture or its nonunion, with weakness of the interossei but normal sensation ## Anatomical variants - The hook may ossify from a separate centre that never fuses (os hamuli proprium), which can be mistaken for a fracture; it is often seen on both sides ## Development The second carpal bone to ossify, a few months after the capitate. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## In which sports is a hook of hamate fracture typical, and how does it present? Golf, baseball and racket sports, when the handle strikes the palm; it gives deep hypothenar pain and is often missed on routine X-rays. ## Which two canals does the hook of the hamate bound? Guyon's canal on its medial side and the carpal tunnel on its lateral side. ## Which tendons can fray or rupture with a nonunion of the hook of the hamate? The flexor tendons of the ring and little fingers, which glide against the hook. ## What is the hook of hamate pull test? Resisted flexion of the ring and little fingers with the wrist in ulnar deviation; pain suggests a hook fracture. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/hamate/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** os hamatum TA2 1259 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Hueso ganchoso **English (TA2)** Hamate **Also called** unciform bone ## Related - [CMC ligaments](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/carpometacarpal-and-metacarpal-ligaments/) - [Dorsal intercarpal ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/dorsal-intercarpal-ligament/) - [Dorsal radiocarpal ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/dorsal-radiocarpal-ligament/) - [Extensor tendons](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/extensor-digitorum-tendons/) - [FCU tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-carpi-ulnaris-tendon/) - [FDP tendons](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-digitorum-profundus-tendons/) - [Flexor carpi ulnaris](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-carpi-ulnaris/) - [Flexor digiti minimi](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-digiti-minimi-brevis/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Hand Carpal Bones](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535382/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hamate/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/hamate/