You can move your wrist joint in four primary ways. These movements are flexion, extension, adduction (ulnar deviation), and abduction (radial deviation).
Wrist Joint Movements Explained
The wrist joint, crucial for hand function, allows for a combination of movements vital for everyday tasks. These movements are facilitated by muscles in the forearm that attach to the bones of the wrist and hand.
- Flexion: This movement decreases the angle between your hand and forearm, essentially bending your wrist forward. Muscles involved include the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi radialis, assisted by the flexor digitorum superficialis.
- Extension: This movement increases the angle between your hand and forearm, bending your wrist backward. Muscles responsible are the extensor carpi ulnaris and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis.
- Adduction (Ulnar Deviation): This movement moves your hand towards the ulna (the bone on the pinky finger side of your forearm). The primary muscle involved is the flexor carpi ulnaris, with assistance from the extensor carpi ulnaris.
- Abduction (Radial Deviation): This movement moves your hand towards the radius (the bone on the thumb side of your forearm). Muscles involved include the flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis.
While these are the four primary movements, it's important to remember that the wrist doesn't move in isolation. Slight circumduction, a conical movement combining flexion, extension, adduction, and abduction, is also possible. However, the four listed are the fundamental actions.
In summary, the wrist can perform flexion, extension, adduction (ulnar deviation), and abduction (radial deviation), giving it considerable range of motion.
