Introduction
The palmar radiocarpal ligament (anterior ligament, volar radiocarpal ligament) is a broad membranous band. Some sources break down the components of the ligament as follows: radiolunate, radiocapitate, radiotriquetral, and radioscaphoid. Other sources combine the radioscaphoid and radiocapitate into a radioscaphocapitate.
Attachments
It is attached above to the anterior margin of the lower end of the radius, to its styloid process, and to the front of the lower end of the ulna.
Course
The fibers of the palmar radiocarpal ligament pass downward and medialward to be inserted into the volar surfaces of the scaphoid, lunate, and triangular bones, some being continued to the capitate. In addition to this broad membrane, there is a rounded fasciculus, superficial to the rest, that reaches from the base of the styloid process of the ulna to the lunate and triangular bones.
The palmar radiocarpal ligament is perforated by apertures for the passage of vessels.
This ligament is in relation, in front, with the tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis longus. Behind, it is closely adherent to the anterior border of the articular disk of the distal radioulnar articulation.
