Corpus: Hamate bone
1. Definition
The hamate bone is a pyramid-shaped carpal bone of the distal row. It owes its name to a hook-shaped bone projection on the palmar side.
2. Anatomy
The hamate bone is located on the lateral edge of the distal carpus. It borders radially on the capitate bone. It is in articular connection with this bone. Proximally, the hamate bone articulates with the distal surfaces of the triquetral and the lunate bone and is thus involved in the mediocarpal articulation. Distally, the bone borders on the metacarpal bones IV and V and thus forms part of the carpometacarpal articulation. The hook of hamate bone protrudes from the hamate bone onto the volar side of the hand and forms the ulnar eminence of the wrist.
2.1. Dimensions
The hamate bone has a length of about 21 mm and a width of about 16 mm.
3. Variety
Sometimes the hamulus does not fuse with the hamate bone during ossification, which leads to the formation of an os hamuli proprium.