Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google

Carpals Quiz Practice Test

Boost your anatomy skills with focused practice

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: North End FloristUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 10
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art promoting Crack the Carpals trivia game on wrist anatomy for students

This carpals quiz helps you practice the wrist bones - name each carpal and place it in the right row. Work through 20 quick questions, get clear results, and use the reading links to review. Use it to spot weak areas before a Grade 10 test or lab.

How many carpal bones are in one human wrist?
7
9
8
6
undefined
Which carpal bone has a prominent hook on its palmar surface?
Capitate
Lunate
Trapezoid
Hamate
undefined
Which carpal bone is most commonly fractured in a fall on an outstretched hand (FOOSH)?
Hamate
Scaphoid
Lunate
Trapezium
undefined
Which is the largest carpal bone?
Scaphoid
Capitate
Lunate
Hamate
undefined
Which nerve passes through the carpal tunnel?
Ulnar nerve
Median nerve
Radial nerve (superficial branch)
Axillary nerve
undefined
Which carpal bone is named for its crescent shape?
Triquetrum
Hamate
Lunate
Scaphoid
undefined
Which sequence lists the proximal row of carpal bones from lateral to medial?
Pisiform, Triquetrum, Lunate, Scaphoid
Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate
Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform
Hamate, Capitate, Trapezoid, Trapezium
undefined
Which sequence lists the distal row of carpal bones from lateral to medial?
Pisiform, Triquetrum, Lunate, Scaphoid
Hamate, Capitate, Trapezoid, Trapezium
Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform
Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate
undefined
Which single carpal bone articulates most extensively with the distal radius?
Capitate
Scaphoid
Pisiform
Hamate
undefined
Which carpal bone is most commonly dislocated in the wrist?
Trapezium
Lunate
Scaphoid
Pisiform
undefined
Which carpal bone articulates with the base of the first metacarpal to form the thumb CMC joint?
Trapezium
Capitate
Trapezoid
Scaphoid
undefined
What structure forms the roof of the carpal tunnel?
Palmar aponeurosis
Pronator quadratus
Flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament)
Extensor retinaculum
undefined
The pisiform is a sesamoid bone within the tendon of which muscle?
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Abductor pollicis longus
Flexor carpi radialis
Flexor carpi ulnaris
undefined
In scaphoid fractures, which region is at greatest risk for avascular necrosis due to retrograde blood flow?
Distal pole
Waist on the distal side
Proximal pole
Volar ridge
undefined
Which carpal contributes the second lateral attachment site for the flexor retinaculum along with the scaphoid tubercle?
Trapezoid
Trapezium
Hamate
Capitate
undefined
Which wrist movement occurs predominantly at the radiocarpal joint compared with the midcarpal joint?
Supination
Pronation
Flexion
Extension
undefined
Which specific ligament directly connects the scaphoid to the lunate?
Ulnar collateral ligament of wrist
Dorsal radiocarpal ligament
Transverse carpal ligament
Scapholunate interosseous ligament
undefined
Which carpal bone is typically the first to ossify during early childhood?
Capitate
Scaphoid
Hamate
Lunate
undefined
In a perilunate dislocation, which carpal bone typically remains aligned with the distal radius?
Scaphoid
Hamate
Capitate
Lunate
undefined
Which wrist radiographic view is most sensitive for detecting an occult scaphoid fracture?
PA wrist with ulnar deviation (scaphoid view)
AP forearm
Lateral elbow
PA chest
undefined
0

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the anatomical arrangement of the carpal bones.
  2. Identify the names and positions of individual wrist bones.
  3. Apply knowledge of wrist anatomy to answer quiz questions accurately.
  4. Analyze common patterns and variations in wrist structure.
  5. Evaluate the functional importance of the carpals in hand movement.

Carpals Quiz - Practice Test Cheat Sheet

  1. Eight Carpal Bones - Your wrist isn't just a hinge - it's made of eight little bones lined up in two rows, like VIPs at a concert. The proximal row (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform) and distal row (trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate) team up for smooth motion.
  2. Clever Mnemonic - Never worry about forgetting the bone names when you've got "Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle" in your pocket. Each first letter cues you to Scaphoid, Lunate, Triquetrum, Pisiform, Trapezium, Trapezoid, Capitate, Hamate.
  3. Scaphoid Superstar - Hanging out on the thumb side, the scaphoid takes on most of the load when you land on an outstretched hand. That superstar status makes it the most commonly fractured carpal bone - ouch!
  4. Lunate's Crescent Shape - The lunate looks like a little moon, sitting proudly in the center of the proximal row and sliding against your radius. Its shape and position are key for those smooth flexion and extension moves of the wrist.
  5. Pisiform Power-Up - Tiny but mighty, the pea-shaped pisiform lives in the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle and boosts its leverage. It's like a natural pulley that amps up your wrist's bending power.
  6. Trapezium Thumb Magic - The trapezium teams up with the first metacarpal to form the thumb's carpometacarpal joint - your secret weapon for pinch, grasp, and all those TikTok transitions. It's a game-changer for dexterity!
  7. Capitate Centerpiece - Meet the capitate, the largest carpal bone that sits like a king at the center of the wrist, rotating with the third metacarpal. Think of it as the hub that keeps your wrist spinning smoothly.
  8. Hamate Hook - The hamate sports a little hook called the hamulus, perfect for ligament attachments and forming part of the carpal tunnel's walls. It's like a built‑in handle that keeps things in place.
  9. Carpal Tunnel Passage - Imagine a narrow hallway formed by carpal bones and the flexor retinaculum, where your median nerve and flexor tendons have to squeeze through. If things get too tight, hello carpal tunnel syndrome - time to stretch!
  10. Ossification Timeline - Those carpal bones don't all show up at once: capitate and hamate start ossifying around 1 - 3 months old, while the pisiform waits until around 8 - 12 years. Tracking this timeline can help you spot growth patterns in X‑rays.
Powered by: Quiz Maker