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The carpal tunnel is an anatomical structure in the wrist. This tunnel has a roof, a floor, and two walls. The roof is made of the transverse carpal ligament. The floor and walls are composed of the wrist bones, which are called carpal bones (see Figure 1). The carpal tunnel is the passageway through which the median nerve and finger flexor tendons pass from the forearm into the hand.
In a normal wrist, there is adequate space for the median nerve and flexor tendons in the carpal tunnel. In individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome, the space for the nerve is too tight, leading to increased pressure on the nerve. This has potential to disrupt the blood supply of the median nerve, leading to nerve dysfunction. |
Figure 1. The carpal tunnel is found at the base of the palm. It is formed by the bones of the wrist and the transverse carpal ligament.
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In simple terms, carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. It is the most common nerve compression syndrome (compressive neuropathy) in the upper extremity, affecting 1 in 20 people.
Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to a complex of signs and symptoms caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Increased pressure within the carpal tunnel and decreased function of the median nerve at the level of the wrist causes numbness and/or tingling of the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger. Advanced carpal tunnel syndrome may cause hand and finger pain, clumsiness, and less commonly weakness. Carpal tunnel syndrome is responsible for substantial financial burden on society from lost productivity and wages, and treatment costs. Some carpal tunnel syndrome cases are work related and treated under worker's compensation coverage. |
Figure 2. Aspects of median nerve function.
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