Ligament · Hand

Palmar carpometacarpal ligament

Ligamenta carpometacarpalia palmaria

The palm-side bands of the same joint line, running from the trapezium, trapezoid, capitate and hamate onto the fronts of the bases of the second to fifth metacarpals. They are slighter than the dorsal set and are buried beneath the long flexor tendons and the deep palmar arch, which is why accounts of the carpometacarpal joints tend to lead with the dorsal ligaments. Their contribution is to close the joint capsule on the palm side and add a second line of restraint to a row of joints that is meant to be almost immobile. The exception is at the ulnar end of that row, where the little finger's joint retains enough movement to let the palm cup.