In the human body, the carpal tunnel or carpal canal is the fibro-osseous [That consists of bones on one side of canal and fibrous band on other] passageway on the palmar side of the wrist that connects the distal forearm to the middle compartment of the palm.
Structure
The carpal bones 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.
Superficial to the carpal tunnel and the flexor retinaculum, the ulnar artery and ulnar nerve pass through the ulnar tunnel. [3]
The carpal tunnel has following structures pasing through it.
- Four tendons of flexor digitorum profundus
- Four tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis
- Single tendon of flexor pollicis longus
- Tendon of flexor carpi radialis
- Median Nerve
The tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus pass through a common sheath, while the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus passes through a separate sheath.
The space in the carpal tunnel is affectd by the position of wrist is reduced in extremes of flexion and extension.
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[...] It is a strong, fibrous band, that arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel. [...]