VIDEO
CONTENT
QUIZ
MATERIALS
Quick Facts
Key Features
Ossification
Variations
Surface Anatomy
Clinical Correlates
Quick Facts about the Scaphoid Bone
- Location: Hand
- Bone Type: Short bone
- Key Features: Tubercle, palmar and dorsal surfaces; radial, capitate, and trapezium articular facets
- Articulates With: Radius, lunate, capitate, trapezoid, trapezium
- Arterial Supply: Superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, dorsal carpal branch of the radial artery
Key Features & Anatomical Relations of the Scaphoid
- General Structure: The scaphoid is boat-shaped and is the largest in the proximal row of carpal bones.
- Classification: It is a short bone.
- Parts: Features a prominent tubercle.
- Surfaces: Defined palmar and dorsal surfaces.
- Landmarks: Articular facets for radius, lunate, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium.
Location and Articulation
- Position: Proximal to the trapezoid and trapezium, distal to the radius, lateral to the lunate and capitate.
- Joints: Part of the radiocarpal (wrist) joint, scapholunate, scaphocapitate, scaphotrapezoid, and scaphotrapezium joints.
Ossification of the Scaphoid
- Ossification Centers: One center that appears between the fourth and fifth years of life.
- Fusion: Complete ossification is achieved during early adolescence.
Variations in Scaphoid Anatomy
- Bipartite Condition: The scaphoid may be divided into two parts.
- Accessory Bones: The presence of the os centrale bone between the scaphoid, capitate, and trapezoid.
Surface Anatomy of the Scaphoid
- Palpation Points:
- Dorsal Surface: In the anatomical snuffbox, distal to the radial styloid process.
- Tubercle: Proximal to the thenar eminence on wrist extension.
Clinical Correlates
- Scaphoid fractures, which are common in the wrist.
- Avascular necrosis of the scaphoid, often due to impaired blood supply post-fracture.
- Scaphoid aplasia (absence of the scaphoid).
- Preiser’s disease, a condition involving spontaneous avascular necrosis of the scaphoid.