Flexor retinaculum of the hand
The mucous sheaths of the tendons on the front of the wrist and digits. (Transverse carpal ligament labeled at center.)
The muscles of the thumb. (Trans. carpal ligament labeled at center.)
Latin	retinaculum musculorum flexorum manus, ligamentum carpi transversum
Gray's	subject #126 456

The flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament, or anterior annular ligament) is a strong, fibrous band, which arches over the carpus, converting the deep groove on the front of the carpal bones into a tunnel, the carpal tunnel, through which the Flexor tendons of the digits and the median nerve pass.

It is attached, medially, to the pisiform and the hamulus of the hamate bone; laterally, to the tubercle of the scaphoid, and to the medial part of the volar surface and the ridge of the trapezium.

It is continuous, superficially, with the volar carpal ligament; and deep, with the palmar aponeurosis. It is crossed by the ulnar vessels and nerve, and the cutaneous branches of the median and ulnar nerves.

At its lateral end is the tendon of the Flexor carpi radialis, which lies in the groove on the greater multangular between the attachments of the ligament to the bone.

On its volar surface the tendons of the Palmaris longus and Flexor carpi ulnaris are partly inserted; below, it gives origin to the short muscles of the thumb and little finger.

[edit] See also

• Peroneal retinacula
• Dorsal carpal ligament
• Extensor retinaculum of the hand

[edit] Additional images

Transverse section across the wrist and digits.

The muscles of the left hand. Palmar surface.

The radial and ulnar arteries.

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 08:04-08
• Hand kinesiology at UK ligaments/wvstflexret.htm
• lesson5flexretinac&palmapon at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

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