The carpus in the conflict between stability and mobility

The stability of the carpus is determined by a precise interaction of the o sseous and ligamentous elements. The main load of the carpus responsible fo r the adaptation of concerned tissues is a longitudinal compression caused by the force of the muscles of the forearm with their insertions to the met acarpus and fingers. As a consequence, the proximal row is distracted due t o the wedge-shaped form of the hamatum together with the capitatum. It is t he function of the mainly oblique orientated ligaments to take these transv erse tensional forces, supported by the circular arrangement of the retinac ula. Here, the ligaments are described in respect of their precise course i nto three groups. The distribution of material which is needed for bearing the enormous static and dynamic forces is minimised by the integration in a system of oblique fibre bundles which guaranties that all elements, osseou s as well as ligamentous, are involved in the force distribution. This is t he prerequisition for the minimalisation of osseous material. On the other hand, damage of only one element can cause severe consequences to the stabi lity of the whole system.