Where the trapezium sits in the skeleton
The trapezium is the bone on the thumb side of the far row of wrist bones. Its saddle-shaped joint with the thumb metacarpal lets the thumb move widely. It meets the scaphoid, the trapezoid and the first and second metacarpals. On its palm side is a tubercle, and the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis runs in a groove beside it.
Frequently asked questions
Which part of the skeleton is the trapezium in?
The trapezium 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 trapezium or a pair?
The trapezium is paired: there is one on the left and one on the right, and this page covers both.
What runs in the groove of the trapezium?
The tendon of the flexor carpi radialis, which passes the groove beside the tubercle on the palm side of the trapezium on its way to the metacarpals.
Other bones of the hand
- Scaphoid
- Lunate
- Triquetral
- Pisiform
- 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 trapezium
Compare with similar bones
Bone counts
By region
Read more
Related reading
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- What getting up from a chair says about how your body is ageing
- Why ageing bone marrow turns to fat, and a PEMF study in mice
- PEMF and whole-body vibration: two rhythms that reach the body
- Myokines: the signals working muscle sends to the body
- Ageing parents: the changes families notice first
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