Dorsal metacarpal ligaments
Ligamenta metacarpea dorsalia
Short transverse bands on the back of the hand joining the bases of neighbouring finger metacarpals at the intermetacarpal joints.
At a glance
- English
- Dorsal metacarpal ligaments
- Latin (TA2)
- Ligamenta metacarpea dorsalia
- System
- Ligament
- Region
- Hand
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the dorsal metacarpal ligaments
The dorsal metacarpal ligaments are small fibrous bands on the back of the hand, close to the wrist. Each passes across from the dorsal side of one metacarpal base to the next, so they join the bases of the second and third, third and fourth, and fourth and fifth metacarpals. Where these bases touch they form small plane synovial joints, the intermetacarpal joints, which usually share a joint cavity with the carpometacarpal joints just behind them.
Every intermetacarpal joint is held by three sets of bands. The dorsal metacarpal ligaments lie on the back; the palmar metacarpal ligaments take the same course on the front; and between the facing surfaces, the interosseous metacarpal ligaments form the strongest bond. The first metacarpal, which carries the thumb, is not tied to the second in this way, so the thumb remains free to swing across the palm. The dorsal bands lie under the extensor tendons of the fingers and close to the dorsal carpal arch and the start of the dorsal metacarpal arteries.
By binding the bases into a unit, these ligaments help the dorsal carpometacarpal ligaments hold the finger metacarpals together as a firm framework for the palm. They allow only slight gliding at the bases. This small movement, greater towards the ring and little fingers, lets the metacarpal heads move forwards and the palm cup around an object.
These bands are seldom injured alone. They may be torn in fracture-dislocations at the bases of the metacarpals, such as those that follow a punch, and are part of the soft tissue that must heal for the hand to regain a stable base.
Attachments and function
- Attaches from
- The dorsal surface of the bases of the second, third and fourth metacarpals.
- Attaches to
- The dorsal surface of the base of the adjacent metacarpal on the ulnar side, from the third to the fifth.
- Function
- Bind the bases of the finger metacarpals together on the back of the hand and limit their movement to slight gliding.
- Nerve supply
- Articular branches of the posterior interosseous nerve and the deep branch of the ulnar nerve.
- Blood supply
- Branches of the dorsal carpal arch and dorsal metacarpal arteries.
Anthromica
See the dorsal metacarpal ligaments where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
