The capitate (wrist bone)
Capitate bone · os capitatum
The largest of the eight wrist bones, in the centre of the wrist.
What it does
The capitate sits at the very centre of the wrist, in the second row of carpal bones. Its rounded head fits into a cup formed by the scaphoid and lunate. The long bone of your middle finger's palm rests on it, so it takes much of the load when you push with your hand.
Surprising fact
The capitate is the largest wrist bone and usually the first to start turning into bone in a baby, which is why it appears first on X-rays of a young child's hand.
Why it matters
Doctors compare which wrist bones have appeared on a child's hand X-ray to estimate "bone age", useful when checking growth.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.