Female Carpal Region, Anterior View

Description

Palmar soft tissues of the distal forearm and carpal region are presented in anterior view, with the skin creases overlying the radiocarpal joint line and proximal carpal row. The distal radius lies lateral (radial) to the distal ulna, framing the carpus between the radial styloid and the ulnar styloid, while the thenar eminence sits laterally and the hypothenar eminence medially. Across the volar wrist, the flexor tendons course distally toward the palm, and the flexor retinaculum spans transversely to roof the carpal tunnel. Palmar landmarks matter. Clinically, this orientation is the one used for surface anatomy and for planning volar approaches to the wrist, where you must respect the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve and the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery. It also supports teaching of carpal tunnel syndrome by tying symptoms to the anatomy beneath the distal wrist crease, where the median nerve passes deep to the flexor retinaculum alongside the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons and the flexor pollicis longus tendon. For distal radius fracture workups, the relationship of radial-sided landmarks to the radiocarpal joint helps explain why volar plating is placed on the distal radius proximal to the watershed line to avoid flexor pollicis longus irritation. Useful in gross anatomy and surface anatomy courses covering the upper limb, as well as in patient education materials that map wrist pain, paresthesia, or injection sites to palpable anterior wrist landmarks. It also fits orthopedic and hand surgery texts describing volar portal placement, tendon sheath pathology, and median nerve decompression. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.