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# Palmar wrist ligaments

The palmar radiocarpal ligaments run on the palm side of the wrist; they are the main restraints that keep the wrist bones from sliding off the radius.

Official name: Palmar radiocarpal ligaments

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## What it is

Strong bands on the palm side of the wrist from the radius to the carpal bones.

## What it does

The main restraints that keep the wrist bones from sliding off the radius.

## Key points

- Stronger than the dorsal ligaments; they are thickenings inside the capsule, best seen from within the joint at arthroscopy
- Radial to ulnar: radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, radioscapholunate (ligament of Testut, more a neurovascular bundle than a true ligament) and short radiolunate
- Space of Poirier: a weak area over the capitolunate joint between the radioscaphocapitate and long radiolunate ligaments, through which the lunate escapes in perilunate dislocation

## Key facts

**Attaches**
Palmar distal radius to scaphoid, capitate and lunate (radioscaphocapitate, long and short radiolunate)

**Function**
Main restraint keeping the carpus on the radius

**Tight in**
Wrist extension

## Relations

**In front**
Floor of the [carpal tunnel](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/carpal-tunnel/): [FPL tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-pollicis-longus-tendon/) and [FDP tendons](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-digitorum-profundus-tendons/), with the [median nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-nerve/) above them; the [FCR tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/flexor-carpi-radialis-tendon/) crosses on the radial side in its own channel

**Behind**
[Scaphoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scaphoid/) and [lunate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lunate/), and the joint surface of the distal [radius](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radius/)

**Lateral**
Radial styloid, where the radioscaphocapitate ligament arises; the [radial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radial-artery/) winds around the styloid towards the anatomical snuffbox

**Medial**
[Ulnocarpal ligaments](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ulnocarpal-ligaments/); the ulnocapitate ligament and the radioscaphocapitate ligament converge on the [capitate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/capitate/) as a V

## How to find it

Not palpable. In the palmar (FCR) approach to the distal radius they lie deep to the [pronator quadratus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pronator-quadratus/) area, arising from the palmar rim just beyond the watershed line; at arthroscopy they are seen through the dorsal 3–4 portal.

## On imaging

PA view: in ulnar translocation the lunate overhangs the ulnar edge of the radius by more than about half its width and the gap between radial styloid and scaphoid widens. MRI shows the ligaments as striated low-signal bands; arthroscopy shows them directly.

## Clinical notes

- Palmar plates for distal radius fractures are kept proximal to the watershed line, where these ligaments arise; a plate sitting too far distally can rub on and rupture the FPL tendon
- Radial styloid (chauffeur's) fractures carry the origin of the radioscaphocapitate ligament and may be part of a carpal ligament injury
- When these ligaments fail (trauma, rheumatoid arthritis) the carpus can slide ulnarly off the radius: ulnar translocation

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What are the palmar wrist ligaments, from radial to ulnar?

Radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, radioscapholunate (ligament of Testut) and short radiolunate.

## What is the space of Poirier?

A weak area over the capitolunate joint between the radioscaphocapitate and long radiolunate ligaments, through which the lunate escapes in perilunate dislocation.

## What happens when the palmar wrist ligaments fail, as in rheumatoid arthritis?

Ulnar translocation: the carpus slides ulnarly off the radius, since these ligaments are its main restraint.

## Why are palmar plates for distal radius fractures kept proximal to the watershed line?

The palmar wrist ligaments arise there; a plate placed too distally can rub on and rupture the flexor pollicis longus tendon.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
ligamentum radiocarpeum palmare TA2 1788

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Ligamento radiocarpiano palmar

**English (TA2)**
Palmar radiocarpal ligaments

**Also called**
volar radiocarpal ligaments

## Related

- [Scapholunate ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scapholunate-interosseous-ligament/)
- [Capitate](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/capitate/)
- [Radius](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radius/)
- [Scaphoid](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/scaphoid/)

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Hand Radiocarpal Joint](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539744/); [Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Wrist Joint](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534779/).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/palmar-radiocarpal-ligaments/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/palmar-radiocarpal-ligaments/