What does carpal mean?
'Carpal' is an anatomical term describing anything relating to the wrist, especially the eight small bones that form it. In medical contexts it functions chiefly as an adjective — as in 'carpal bones', 'carpal joint', and above all 'carpal tunnel', the narrow passageway on the palm side of the wrist through which the median nerve travels. Compression of that nerve produces carpal tunnel syndrome, by far the most familiar phrase containing the word and the reason most people encounter it at all. Less commonly, 'carpal' serves as a noun meaning a single wrist bone, though anatomists usually prefer 'carpal bone'. The word derives from the Greek 'karpos', meaning wrist, and carries no emotional connotation; it is technical, precise, and almost entirely confined to medicine, anatomy, and discussions of repetitive strain injury.
Of or relating to the wrist or the bones of the wrist.
"An X-ray revealed damage to two of her carpal bones."
Almost exclusively used in medical or anatomical writing.
One of the small bones constituting the wrist; a carpal bone.
"Each carpal articulates with neighbouring bones to allow the wrist's range of motion."
In anatomy, 'carpal bone' is the more common phrasing.
Used only for the noun sense referring to wrist bones.
"The radiologist counted all eight carpals on the scan."
The same Greek root that gives you 'carpal' also hides inside 'metacarpal' — literally 'beyond the wrist', which is exactly where your knuckles sit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of carpal
Carpal comes from the Greek word 'karpos', meaning wrist, which passed into New Latin as 'carpus'; the English adjective was formed with the suffix '-al' in the 18th century as anatomical terminology was systematized. It shares this root with 'metacarpal', referring to the bones just beyond the wrist, and with 'carpometacarpal'. The related botanical term 'carpel' has a different origin despite the similar spelling.
How carpal is actually used
'Carpal' belongs chiefly to medical and anatomical register; in everyday speech it appears most often in the fixed phrase 'carpal tunnel syndrome'. The noun use ('a carpal') is largely confined to anatomy texts, where 'carpal bone' is more usual.
Easily confused with carpal
A carpel is the female reproductive organ of a flower in botany, whereas 'carpal' refers to the bones of the wrist.