Carpal tunnel

In the human body, the carpal tunnel or carpal canal is the passageway on the palmar side of the wrist that connects the forearm to the hand.[1]

Carpal tunnel
The carpal tunnel
Details
Identifiers
LatinCanalis carpi
TAA03.5.11.201
FMA42352
Anatomical terminology

The tunnel is bounded by the bones of the wrist and flexor retinaculum from connective tissue. Normally several tendons from the flexor group of forearm muscles and the median nerve pass through it. There are described cases of variable median artery occurrence.

The canal is narrow, and when any of the nine long flexor tendons passing through it swell or degenerate, the narrowing of the canal may result in the median nerve becoming entrapped or compressed, a common medical condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.[2]

Structure
Carpal tunnel as seen on MRI

The carpal bones that make up the wrist form an arch which is convex on the dorsal side of the hand and concave on the palmar side. The groove on the palmar side, the sulcus carpi, is covered by the flexor retinaculum, a sheath of tough connective tissue, thus forming the carpal tunnel. On the side of the radius, the flexor retinaculum is attached to the scaphoid bone, more precisely its tubercle, as well as the ridge of trapezium. On the ulnar side it is attached to the pisiform and hook of hamate.[3]

The narrowest section of the tunnel is located a centimetre beyond the mid-line of the distal row of carpal bones where the sectional area is limited to 1.6 cm2.[2]

The tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus pass through a common ulnar sheath, while the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus passes through a separate radial sheath. The mesotendon shared by these tendons is attached to the radial and palmar walls of the carpal tunnel.[3]

Superficial to the carpal tunnel and the flexor retinaculum, the ulnar artery and ulnar nerve pass through the ulnar tunnel/Guyon's canal.[3]

Function
Transverse section across the wrist and carpals; the palm is at the top (carpal tunnel not labeled but visible at centre)

Ten structures pass through the carpal tunnel, most of them flexor tendons[2] (not the muscles themselves):

The flexor carpi radialis (one tendon), is often incorrectly stated to travel within the carpal tunnel. More precisely, it travels within the fibers of the flexor retinaculum which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel, rather than running inside the tunnel itself.

Effect of wrist movements

Movements in the wrist affect the shape and width of the carpal tunnel. The width decreases considerably during normal range of motion in the wrist and because the carpal bones move in relation to each other with every motion of the hand the bony walls of the tunnel are not rigid. Both flexion and extension increase compression in the carpal tunnel.

  • Flexing the wrist causes the flexor retinaculum to move closer to the radius which considerably decreases the cross section of the proximal opening of the tunnel. Additionally, the distal end of the capitate presses into the opening.
  • In extreme extension, the lunate constricts the passage as it is pressed toward the interior of the tunnel.[1]

Clinical significance
Main article: Carpal tunnel syndrome
3D medical animation still of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a syndrome characterised by tingling burning and pain (needle, pin) through the course of median nerve particularly over the outer fingers and radiating up the arm, that is caused by compression of the carpal tunnel contents. It is associated with repetitive use, rheumatoid arthritis, and a number of other states. It can be detected using Tinel's sign and the Phalen maneuver. It may be treated non-surgically by splinting and/or corticosteroid injection, though definitive management often requires surgical division of the flexor retinaculum, which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel symptoms can sometimes be caused by tight muscles in the neck and shoulder region.

Additional images
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Wrist joint. Deep dissection.Anterior, palmar, view.
  • Wrist joint. Deep dissection.Anterior, palmar, view.
  • Wrist joint. Deep dissection.Anterior, palmar, view.
  • Carpal tunnel and thenar and hypothenar eminences
  • Carpal tunnel

See also
This article uses anatomical terminology. For an overview, see Anatomical terminology.

References
  1. Schmidt, Hans-Martin; Lanz, Ulrich (2003). Surgical anatomy of the hand. Thieme. p. 29. ISBN 1-58890-007-X.
  2. Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. pp. 248–249. ISBN 1-58890-419-9.
  3. Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. p. 354. ISBN 1-58890-419-9.
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