Where the scaphoid sits in the skeleton
The scaphoid is the boat-shaped bone on the thumb side of the near row of wrist bones. It articulates with the radius and takes part in wrist movement. Besides the radius it meets the lunate, capitate, trapezium and trapezoid, linking the two rows of wrist bones. It lies in the floor of the hollow that appears on the thumb side of the wrist when the thumb is stretched out (the anatomical snuffbox).
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the scaphoid in?
The scaphoid 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 scaphoid or a pair?
The scaphoid is paired: there is one on the left and one on the right, and this page covers both.
Where can you feel the scaphoid?
Stretch the thumb out hard and a hollow appears between tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. The scaphoid lies in the floor of this hollow, the anatomical snuffbox.
Other bones of the hand
- Lunate
- 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 scaphoid
Compare with similar bones
Bone counts
By region
Read more
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