Carpal bones – Mnemonic

There are certain well-known sentences used as a mnemonic to remember the names and arrangement of the 8 carpal bones in 2 rows.

1. She Looks Too Pretty, Try To Catch Her
2. Some Lovers Try Positions That They Cannot Handle

So using this mnemonic, we will learn the arrangement of the carpal bones:

a. Proximal row (radial to ulnar):

• Scaphoid (boat-shaped): most commonly fractured carpal bone
• Lunate (moon-shaped)
• Triquetral (pyramid-shaped)
• Pisiform (pea-shaped): smallest carpal bone (also classified as sesamoid)

b. Distal row (radial to ulnar):

• Trapezium (Irregular quadrilateral with one side parallel)
• Trapezoid (Irregular quadrilateral with no sides parallel): smallest carpal bone in distal row
• Capitate (head-shaped): largest carpal bone
• Hamate (having hook/hamulus)

The problem with this mnemonic is the two “T”s in distal row both starting from”Trapez-“.

This can be remembered using another simple trick:

1. Trapez-ium: Towards thumb
2. Trapez-oid: On it’s side or Inside