01 / Location & anatomical relationships
At the junction of your forearm and hand.
02 / Structure & organization
The radiocarpal and midcarpal joints coordinate wrist motion. Eight carpal bones form two rows, with ligaments maintaining their arrangement. Flexor tendons and the median nerve pass through the carpal tunnel beneath the flexor retinaculum.
03 / Function
Several small bones let your hand bend and move.
04 / Mechanism
Small wrist bones form a flexible bridge between the forearm and palm. Their joints share movement rather than acting as one large hinge. Tendons pass across the wrist to reach the fingers.
Part of a bigger picture
The wrist belongs in our arms & hands collection. Explore the nearby parts to see how this area of the body fits together.
Explore arms & hands →FOR DEEPER STUDY
Connect structure with function
Wrist flexion, extension and deviation differ from forearm rotation. The ulna is separated from the main radiocarpal articulation by an articular disc.
Check your understanding
Locate the wrist in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.