carpal tunnel

A U-shaped cluster of eight small wrist bones known as the carpal bones. The carpal bones are aligned in two rows of four bones each. They're covered by a wrist-supporting ligament known as the transverse carpal ligament. Passing through the carpal tunnel are:


the median nerve, which supplies sensation to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and usually half of the fourth finger
the flexor tendons of the hand, which slide back and forth within the carpal tunnel when the hand and fingers are used
blood vessels