Ligament · Hand

Dorsal carpometacarpal ligaments

Ligamenta carpometacarpalia dorsalia

Strong short bands passing from the far row of carpal bones onto the backs of the bases of the second to fifth metacarpals — the seam where the hand proper meets the wrist. Most of these metacarpals receive fibres from more than one carpal bone, part of the reason the joint line is stepped rather than straight. They are the stouter of the two sets at these joints, the palmar bands being comparatively slight. Lying directly beneath the extensor tendons, they take the strain whenever load is driven back through the knuckles into the wrist.