Carpal Tunnel Flashcards
What is the carpal tunnel?
A narrow passageway found on the anterior portion of the wrist
What does the carpal tunnel serve as?
The entrance to the palm for several tendons and the median nerve
What is the carpal tunnel formed by?
Two layers, a deep carpal arch, and a superficial flexor retinaculum
What does the deep carpal arch form?
A concave surface, which is converted into a tunnel
How is the deep carpal arch converted into a tunnel?
By the overlying flexor retinaculum
What shape is the carpal arch?
Concave on the palmar side
What is the carpal arch formed by?
Laterally by scaphoid and trapezium tubercles
Medially by hook of hamate and pisiform
What is the flexor retinaculum?
Thick connective tissue
What does the flexor retinaculum do?
Turns the carpal arch into the carpal tunnel by bridging the space between medial and lateral parts of the arch
Where does the flexor retinaculum originate?
On the lateral side
Where does the flexor retinaculum insert?
On the medial side of the carpal arch
What does the carpal tunnel?
9 tendons, surrounded by synovial sheaths, and the median nerve
What tendons does the carpal tunnel contain?
The tendon of the flexor pollicis longus
4 tenson of the flexor digitorum profundus
4 tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis
What are the 8 tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus and superficialis surrounded by?
A single synovial sheath
What is the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus surrounded by?
It’s own synovial sheath
