How many tendons travel through the carpal tunnel?

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway located in the wrist that is surrounded by bones and ligaments. Within this tunnel, there are nine structures that are essential for hand function. These include the tendons of the flexor muscles that allow for finger movement, specifically the flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor digitorum profundus, as well as the flexor pollicis longus tendon, which is responsible for thumb movement.

These nine tendons are crucial for the flexion movements of the fingers and thumb, making their presence in the carpal tunnel vital for coordinated hand activities. Additionally, the median nerve also travels through the carpal tunnel, but it is not counted among these tendons, which is an important distinction to make when considering the total number of structures within the tunnel.

This understanding of the carpal tunnel is significant in recognizing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, where compression can occur, leading to pain and dysfunction in the hand.