Where the lunate sits in the skeleton
The lunate is the crescent-shaped bone in the middle of the near row of wrist bones. It articulates with the radius. There is one on each side of the body. It meets the radius above and the capitate below, and sits between the scaphoid and triquetral in the very centre of the wrist.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the lunate in?
The lunate is one of the bones of the hand. The hand is made of eight carpal bones, five metacarpals and fourteen phalanges.
How many bones are in the hand?
Each hand has 27 bones: eight carpal bones in the wrist, five metacarpals in the palm and fourteen phalanges in the fingers.
Is there one lunate or a pair?
The lunate is paired: there is one on the left and one on the right, and this page covers both.
Which bones does the lunate meet?
The radius above, the capitate below, and the scaphoid and triquetral on either side.
Other bones of the hand
- Scaphoid
- Triquetral
- Pisiform
- Trapezium
- Trapezoid
- Capitate
- Hamate
- First metacarpal bone
- Second metacarpal bone
- Third metacarpal bone
- Fourth metacarpal bone
- Fifth metacarpal bone
- Proximal phalanx of thumb
- Distal phalanx of thumb
- Proximal phalanx of index finger
- Middle phalanx of index finger
- Distal phalanx of index finger
- Proximal phalanx of middle finger
- Middle phalanx of middle finger
- Distal phalanx of middle finger
- Proximal phalanx of ring finger
- Middle phalanx of ring finger
- Distal phalanx of ring finger
- Proximal phalanx of little finger
- Middle phalanx of little finger
- Distal phalanx of little finger
Joints of the lunate
Compare with similar bones
Bone counts
By region
Read more
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