The palmar carpal ligament (also volar carpal ligament or ''Guyon's Tunnel'') is a thickened portion of

antebrachial fascia The antebrachial fascia (antibrachial fascia or deep fascia of forearm) continuous above with the brachial fascia, is a dense, membranous investment, which forms a general sheath for the muscles in this region; it is attached, behind, to the ole ...

on anterior/palmar side of the wrist which - together with the

flexor retinaculum of the hand The flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament or anterior annular ligament) is a fibrous band on the palmar side of the hand near the wrist. It arches over the carpal bones of the hands, covering them and forming the carpal tunnel. Structur ...

- retains the tendons of most of the flexor muscles of the hand. The palmar carpal ligament corresponds in location and structure to the

extensor retinaculum of the hand The extensor retinaculum (dorsal carpal ligament, or posterior annular ligament) is a thickened portion of the antebrachial fascia that holds the tendons of the extensor muscles in place. It is located on the back of the forearm, just proximal to ...

also known as the dorsal carpal ligament, on the opposite side of the wrist with which the PCL is continuous as both are formations of the antebrachial fascia. The flexor retinaculum is also known as the transverse carpal ligament.

Anatomy

Relations

The palmar carpal ligament is superficial and proximal to the flexor retinaculum. The

ulnar nerve The ulnar nerve is a nerve that runs near the ulna, one of the two long bones in the forearm. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest in the human body unprotected by muscle or ...

and the

ulnar artery The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the Human Anatomical Terms#Anatomical directions, medial aspects of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins ...

run through the

ulnar canal The ulnar canal or ulnar tunnel (also known as Guyon's canal or tunnel) is a semi-rigid longitudinal canal in the wrist that allows passage of the ulnar artery and ulnar nerve into the hand. (These are named after the ulna, the long bone on the li ...

, which is deep to the palmar carpal ligament and superficial to the flexor retinaculum.

References

Ligaments Hand {{ligament-stub