Articular Capsule of Carpometacarpal Joint of Thumb
Capsula articulationis articulationis carpometacarpalis pollicis
Read moreAnatomical Relations
The articular capsule of the carpometacarpal joint of thumb is the membranous sac enclosing the articular surfaces of the base of the first metacarpal and trapezium. It is composed of an outer fibrous membrane and an inner synovial membrane. The ligaments of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb, i.e., the palmar, lateral, and dorsal carpometacarpal ligaments reinforce the articular capsule.
Function
The articular capsule of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb ensures that the joint is sealed, thus, keeping the lubricating synovial fluid within the joint. It provides passive stability to the joint by limiting the joint movement. Additionally, it provides active stability but containing numerous proprioceptive nerve endings which relay mechanical information back to the central nervous system (Ralphs and Benjamin, 1994).
References
Ralphs, J. R. and Benjamin, M. (1994) 'The joint capsule: structure, composition, ageing and disease', Journal of Anatomy, 184(Pt 3), pp. 503-509.
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Carpometacarpal Joint
The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a saddle-shaped articulation between the base of the first metacarpal and the trapezium.
