The multangular bone, also known as the trapezium bone, is a small bone found in the wrist area. The spelling of this word can be broken down using IPA phonetic transcription as /mʌltˈæŋɡjʊlər/ for multangular and /boʊn/ for bone. The first part of the word, "multangular," is pronounced with stress on the second syllable and is spelled with a "u" in place of "ul" to represent the "short u" sound. The second part, "bone," is spelled traditionally, with a silent "e" at the end.
A multangular bone, also known as a trapezium bone, is a small carpal bone located in the hand, specifically in the region of the wrist. It is found in the distal row of carpals, situated between the scaphoid and the metacarpal bone of the thumb. The term "multangular" is derived from the Latin words "mullus" meaning "mullet" and "angulus" meaning "angled," indicating its trapezoidal shape with multiple angles.
The multangular bone is characterized by its irregularly shaped body, which consists of four articular surfaces. It exhibits a smooth, concave surface that articulates with the scaphoid bone, while its other three surfaces form synovial joints with neighboring bones. The proximal articular surface of the multangular bone connects with the trapezoid bone, whereas the distal surface contacts the proximal end of the first metacarpal bone. Additionally, on its lateral side, a small convex facet is in contact with the adjacent second metacarpal bone.
This bone serves as a vital component of the carpal bones, forming part of the complex wrist joint. It plays a crucial role in allowing the movement and flexibility of the thumb, as well as in the various gripping and pinching actions performed by the hand. Dysfunction or injury to the multangular bone can result in limited range of motion, pain, and impairment in hand functionality, necessitating medical intervention, such as splinting, physical therapy, or, in severe cases, surgery.
Os multangulum; the large m. bone is the term for the trapezium, the small m. bone for the trapezoid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "multangular" originates from the Latin word "mult-", meaning "many", and "angulus", meaning "angle". The term "multangular" therefore refers to something having many angles or corners. The word "bone", on the other hand, comes from the Old English word "ban", which also means "bone". Hence, the etymology of the term "multangular bone" indicates a bone with multiple angles or corners.