Extensor retinaculum of the hand
The mucous sheaths of the tendons on the back of the wrist. (Dorsal carpal ligament labeled at bottom center.)
Latin	retinaculum musculorum extensorum manus
Gray's	subject #126 458

The extensor retinaculum (dorsal carpal ligament, or posterior annular ligament) is an anatomical term for the thickened part of the antebrachial fascia that holds the tendons of the extensor muscles in place. It is located on the back of the forearm, just proximal to the hand. It is continuous with the palmar carpal ligament, which is located on the anterior side of the forearm.

It is a strong, fibrous band, extending obliquely downward and medialward across the back of the wrist, and consisting of part of the deep fascia of the back of the forearm, strengthened by the addition of some transverse fibers.

The extensor retinaculum is attached laterally to the lateral margin of the radius. However, it is not attached to the ulna medially, as the distance between these two bones varies with supination and pronation of the forearm. Instead the medial attachment is to the most medial of the carpal bones, the triquetrum (or triquetral bone) and pisiformis (or pisiform bone). The retinaculum is also attached in its passage across the wrist, to the ridges on the dorsal surface of the radius.

[edit] Additional images

Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.

[edit] External links

• extensor+retinaculum at eMedicine Dictionary
• Hand kinesiology at UK ligaments/wdsextreti.htm

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v • d • e List of muscles of upper limbs (TA A04.6, GA 4.432) Shoulder deltoid · rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) · teres major fascia: Deltoid fascia · Supraspinous fascia · Infraspinous fascia Arm (compartments) Anterior coracobrachialis · biceps brachii · brachialis Posterior triceps brachii · anconeus · Articularis cubiti Fascia Axillary sheath · Axillary fascia · Brachial fascia · intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial) Other spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) Forearm Anterior superficial: pronator teres · palmaris longus · flexor carpi radialis · flexor carpi ulnaris · flexor digitorum superficialis deep: pronator quadratus · flexor digitorum profundus · flexor pollicis longus Posterior superficial: mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) · extensor digitorum · extensor digiti minimi · extensor carpi ulnaris deep: supinator · anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) · extensor indicis Fascia Bicipital aponeurosis · common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) · Antebrachial fascia Other Cubital tunnel Hand Lateral volar thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis) · adductor pollicis Medial volar hypothenar (opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor minimi digiti) · palmaris brevis Intermediate lumbrical · interossei (dorsal, palmar) Fascia posterior: Extensor retinaculum · Extensor expansion anterior: Flexor retinaculum · Palmar aponeurosis