Hamate Bone

Hamate bone

Bone: Hamate bone
BONES OF HANDProximal: A=Scaphoid, B=Lunate, C=Triquetral, D=PisiformDistal: E=Trapezium, F=Trapezoid, G=Capitate, H=Hamate
The left hamate bone
Latin	os hamatum
Gray's	subject #54 227
Articulations	articulates with five bones: the lunate proximallythe fourth and fifth metacarpals distallythe triangular mediallythe capitate laterally
MeSH	Hamate+Bone
Dorlands/Elsevier	o_07/12598356

The hamate bone (unciform bone) is a bone in the human hand that may be readily distinguished by its wedge-shaped form, and the hook-like process which projects from its volar surface. It is situated at the medial and lower angle of the carpus, with its base downward, resting on the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, and its apex directed upward and lateralward.

The etymology derives from the Latin hamatus "hooked," from hamus which means "hook."

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Contents 1 Surfaces 2 Clinical significance 3 See also 4 Additional images

Surfaces

The superior surface, the apex of the wedge, is narrow, convex, smooth, and articulates with the lunate.

The inferior surface articulates with the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones, by concave facets which are separated by a ridge.

The dorsal surface is triangular and rough for ligamentous attachment.

The volar surface presents, at its lower and ulnar side, a curved, hook-like process, the hamulus, directed forward and lateralward.

The medial surface articulates with the triangular bone by an oblong facet, cut obliquely from above, downward and medialward.

The lateral surface articulates with the capitate by its upper and posterior part, the remaining portion being rough, for the attachment of ligaments.

Clinical significance

This is the bone most commonly fractured when an amateur golfer hits the ground hard with his/her golf club on his/her downswing. The fracture is usually a hairline fracture, commonly missed on normal X-Rays. Symptoms are pain aggravated by gripping, tenderness over the hamate and symptoms of irritation of the ulnar nerve.

It is also a common injury in baseball players. A number of professional baseball players have had the bone removed during the course of their careers.[1][2][3][4]

See also

• Bone terminology
• Terms for anatomical location

Additional images

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • eBones of upper limbs
Pectoral girdle, clavicle	conoid tubercle - trapezoid line - costal tuberosity - subclavian groove
Scapula	spine of scapula - suprascapular notch - acromion - glenoid cavity - glenoidal labrum - coracoid process - fossae (subscapular, supraspinatous, infraspinatous) - borders (superior, lateral/axillary, medial/vertebral) - angles (superior, inferior, lateral) - tubercles (infraglenoid, supraglenoid)
Humerus	upper extremity: necks (anatomical, surgical) - tubercles (greater, lesser) - intertubercular sulcus body: radial sulcus - deltoid tuberosity lower extremity: capitulum - trochlea - epicondyles (lateral, medial) - supracondylar ridges (lateral, medial) - fossae (radial, coronoid, olecranon)
Forearm	ulna: upper extremity (olecranon, coronoid process, tuberosity, radial notch, semilunar notch) - body of ulna - lower extremity (styloid process)radius: upper extremity (tuberosity) - body - lower extremity (ulnar notch, styloid process)
Hand	carpus: scaphoid - lunate - triquetral - pisiform - trapezium - trapezoid - capitate - hamate (hamulus) - metacarpus: 1st metacarpal - 2nd - 3rd - 4th - 5th - phalanges of the hand

If the hamate bone is broken, it immobilizes your ring finger, pinky finger, and wrist until it is healed.

Categories: Skeletal system | Wrist