The wrist can move in four primary ways: flexion, extension, adduction (also known as ulnar deviation), and abduction (also known as radial deviation). These movements are made possible by the wrist being an ellipsoidal (condyloid) synovial joint, allowing motion along two axes.
Here's a breakdown of each movement:
- Flexion: Bending the wrist forward, decreasing the angle between the hand and the forearm.
- Extension: Bending the wrist backward, increasing the angle between the hand and the forearm.
- Adduction (Ulnar Deviation): Moving the hand towards the ulna (the bone on the pinky finger side of the forearm).
- Abduction (Radial Deviation): Moving the hand towards the radius (the bone on the thumb side of the forearm).
All of these movements are powered by the muscles located in the forearm, which have tendons that extend down into the hand and attach to the wrist bones.
