Standing, sitting, or lying supine
Anterior or lateral to the patient.
May I touch your wrist? (or point to the demonstrated area).
Now please move your hand up and down and then in and out (or demonstrate).
(Note that all motions are named by the anatomical position as a reference. Radial deviation, e.g., always occurs with the hand and radius approaching each other. Therefore, from anatomical position, radial deviation involves moving the hand outward from the body. With forearm pronation, radial deviation involves moving the hand in toward the body.)
(Note that all motions are named by the anatomical position as a reference. Radial deviation, e.g., always occurs with the hand and radius approaching each other. Therefore, from anatomical position, radial deviation involves moving the hand outward from the body. With forearm pronation, radial deviation involves moving the hand in toward the body.)
The wrist has many articulations. With the patient relaxed, first palpate the distal radius with the prominent styloid process and the distal ulna with the small styloid process. The radiocarpal joint is formed by the articulation of the distal radius and the articular disk, which is distal to the ulna, with the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum (triangular) carpal bones. Palpate each of the bones.
Some call only the radiocarpal joint the wrist joint, but more often, the radiocarpal and the midcarpal joints are referred to collectively as the wrist joint. Palpate the joints during motions of wrist flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation motions.
Some call only the radiocarpal joint the wrist joint, but more often, the radiocarpal and the midcarpal joints are referred to collectively as the wrist joint. Palpate the joints during motions of wrist flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation motions.
VH - close up of the wrist on the skeleton, no muscles