Ligaments around the wrist
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wrist ligaments anatomy intrinsic extrinsic radiocarpal ulnocarpal authoritative
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labeled diagram of intrinsic and extrinsic ligaments of the wrist including scapholunate lunotriquetral radiocarpal and ulnocarpal ligaments
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Ligaments around the wrist
Wrist stability comes from:
- Extrinsic ligaments: connect the forearm to the carpal bones
- Intrinsic ligaments: connect one carpal bone to another
- Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC): stabilizes the ulnar side and distal radioulnar joint
The radiocarpal capsule is reinforced by palmar and dorsal radiocarpal, palmar and dorsal ulnocarpal, and radial and ulnar collateral ligaments. Gray's Anatomy for Students, p. 916.
1. Extrinsic ligaments
| Ligament | Main attachments | Main role |
|---|---|---|
| Palmar radiocarpal ligaments | Radius to proximal and distal carpal rows | Major volar stabilizers; check extension and guide carpal motion |
| Radioscaphocapitate (RSC) | Radial styloid to scaphoid and capitate | Supports the scaphoid waist and constrains scaphoid motion |
| Long radiolunate (LRL) | Radius to lunate | Helps tether and control lunate displacement |
| Short radiolunate (SRL) | Radius to lunate | Helps prevent dorsal displacement of the lunate |
| Radioscapholunate | Radius to scapholunate region | Mostly a neurovascular conduit rather than a major mechanical stabilizer |
| Dorsal radiocarpal (DRC) | Dorsal radius to triquetrum, with connections across dorsal carpus | Limits ulnar translation and supports the dorsal wrist |
| Dorsal intercarpal (DIC) | Dorsal carpal bones | Supports midcarpal stability |
| Ulnocarpal ligaments | Ulna/TFCC region to lunate and triquetrum | Stabilize the ulnar carpus, especially during load transmission |
2. Collateral ligaments
- Radial collateral ligament: radial styloid to the scaphoid and trapezium. It supports the radial side of the wrist and limits excessive ulnar deviation.
- Ulnar collateral ligament: ulnar styloid to the triquetrum and pisiform. It supports the ulnar side and limits excessive radial deviation.
3. Intrinsic intercarpal ligaments
These join carpal bones directly. The two most clinically important are:
- Scapholunate ligament (SL): connects scaphoid to lunate. Tear can cause scapholunate instability and, if untreated, scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) wrist.
- Lunotriquetral ligament (LT): connects lunate to triquetrum. Tear can lead to lunotriquetral instability.
Other intrinsic ligaments include scaphotrapezial, scaphotrapezoid, triquetrocapitate, and other palmar, dorsal, and interosseous intercarpal ligaments.
4. TFCC
The TFCC is not a single ligament. It includes the articular disc, dorsal and palmar radioulnar ligaments, ulnocarpal ligaments, meniscus homologue, and ECU tendon sheath-related structures. It stabilizes the distal radioulnar joint and transfers load on the ulnar side of the wrist.
Quick memory aid
- Volar side: RSC, LRL, SRL
- Dorsal side: DRC, DIC
- Key intrinsic pair: SL and LT
- Ulnar wrist stabilizer: TFCC
The NCBI wrist-joint overview also summarizes the palmar/dorsal radiocarpal and collateral ligaments. Recent reviews address imaging of injured wrist ligaments, but do not change this core anatomy.
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