Hamulus of Hamete

The volar (pertaining to the palm) surface of the hamate bone presents, at its lower and ulnar side, a curved, hook-like process, the hamulus, directed forward and lateralward. It forms the ulnar border of the carpal tunnel. This process gives attachment, by its apex, to the transverse carpal ligament and the Flexor carpi ulnaris; by its medial surface to the Flexor digiti minimi brevis and Opponens digiti minimi; its lateral side is grooved for the passage of the Flexor tendons into the palm of the hand. This process is palpable approximately two centimeters distal to the pisiform bone, in line with the ulnar side of the fourth digit. Palpate this point at the base of your hand and notice how the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve can be rolled over the hamulus. It is one of the four eminences on the front of the carpus to which the transverse carpal ligament of the wrist is attached; the others being the pisiform medially, the oblique ridge of the greater multangular and the tubercle of the scaphoid laterally.

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