Lunate bone

Lunate bone
File:Lunate bone (left hand) 01 palmar view.png Left hand anterior view (palmar view). Lunate bone shown in red.
File:The left lunate bone, from Gray fig.222.png The left lunate bone
Details
Latin	os lunatum
Articulations	radius proximally capitate and hamate distally scaphoid laterally triangular medially
Identifiers
MeSH	A02.835.232.087.144.663
Dorlands /Elsevier	o_07/12598459
TA
TH	{{#property:P1694}}
TE	{{#property:P1693}}
FMA	23712
Anatomical terms of bone [[[d:|edit on Wikidata]]]

The lunate bone (semilunar bone) is a carpal bone in the human hand. It is distinguished by its deep concavity and crescentic outline. It is situated in the center of the proximal row carpal bones, which lie between the ulna and radius and the hand. The lunate carpal bone is situated between the lateral scaphoid bone and medial triquetral bone.

Structure

The lunate is a crescent-shaped carpal bone found within the hand. The lunate is found within the proximal row of carpal bones. Proximally, it abuts the radius. Laterally, it articulates with the scaphoid, medially with the triquetral, and distally with the capitate. The lunate also articulates on its distal and medial surface with the hamate bone.

The lunate is stabilised by a medial ligament to the scaphoid and a lateral ligament to the triquetrum. Ligaments between the radius and carpal bone also stabilise the position of the lunate, as does its position in the lunate fossa of the radius.

Bone

The proximal surface of the lunate bone is smooth and convex, articulating with the radius. The lateral surface is flat and narrow, with a crescentic facet for articulation with the scaphoid. The medial surface possesses a smooth and quadrilateral facet for articulation with the triquetral. The palmar surface is rough, as is the dorsal surface. The dorsal surface is broad and rounded. The distal surface of the bone is deep and concave.

Blood supply

The lunate receives its blood supply from dorsal and palmar branches.

Variation

The lunate has a variable shape. About one-third of lunate bones do not possess a medial facet, meaning they do not articulate with the hamate bone. Additionally, in about 20% of people, blood supply may arise from palmar vessels alone.

Ossification

The ossification of Lunate bone commences between 18 months and 4 years and 3 months.

Function

The carpal bones function as a unit to provide a bony superstructure for the hand. As a proximal carpal bone, the lunate is also involved in movement of the wrist.

Clinical relevance

File:Perilunaere Luxation.jpg

Perilunar dislocation as seen on x-ray.

The lunate bone is the most frequently dislocated carpal bone.

• Kienbock's disease
• Teisen classification

History

The name of the lunate bone derives from the "crescent-shaped" (Latin: lunatus), from Latin luna ("moon"), from the bone's resemblance to a crescent moon. In amphibians and reptiles, the bone is instead referred to as the intermedium, because of its position between the other two proximal carpals.

Additional images

• Lunate bone (left hand) - animation01.gif

  Lunate bone of the left hand (shown in red). Animation.

• Lunate bone (left hand) - animation02.gif

  Lunate bone of the left hand. Close up. Animation.

• Lunate bone.jpg

  Lunate bone.

• Gray219 - Lunate bone.png

  Bones of the left hand. Volar surface.

• Gray220 - Lunate bone.png

  Bones of the left hand. Dorsal surface.

• Ospoignet - Lunate bone.png

  Cross section of wrist (thumb on left). Lunate shown in red.

• LunatedislocationAP.jpg

  Dislocated lunate

• LunatedislocationL.jpg

  Dislocated lunate

• Slide4kaka.JPG

  Wrist joint. Deep dissection. Posterior view.

• Slide5kaka.JPG

  Wrist joint. Deep dissection. Posterior view.

See also

This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see Anatomical terminology.

• Carpal bone

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)