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AnatomyUpper limbWrist and handLunate bone
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AnatomyUpper limbWrist and handLunate bone

Lunate bone

Author: Christina Loukopoulou, MSc • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: March 12, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Carpal bones [14:11]
The eight bones of the wrist, known as the carpal bones, and related bony landmarks.
Lunate bone
Os lunatum
1/4
Synonyms: none

The lunate bone is one of the eight carpal bones. Its name is derived from the word luna in Latin which stands for "crescent-shaped" or "moon". The lunate bone is found in the center of the proximal row of the carpal bones between the scaphoid and triquetrum bones. 

The articulation between the lunate bone and the scaphoid and triquetrum is stabilized by the scapholunate ligament and the lunotriquetral ligament, respectively.

The lunate articulates with five bones:

  • the head of the radius and the articular disc of the distal radioulnar joint proximally,
  • the capitate and hamate distally,
  • the scaphoid laterally and
  • the triquetrum medially.

As one of the carpal bones found in the proximal row, it is involved in movement of the wrist.

Terminology English: Lunate bone

Latin: Os lunatum
Definition The lunate bone is one of the eight carpal bones.

Learn more about the carpal bones in the following study unit:

Bones of the wrist and hand Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.
  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. (2017). Clinically oriented anatomy (8th ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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