- Related Topics:
- repetitive strain injury
- wrist
- neuropathy
- carpal tunnel
- On the Web:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (Oct. 16, 2026)
carpal tunnel syndrome
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What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition causing numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist. Repetitive flexing or stressing of the fingers or wrist over a long period of time can cause it. CTS occurs when there is pressure on the median nerve, which contains fibers that carry nerve impulses between the hand and the spinal cord. The carpal tunnel is a small passage surrounded by carpal bones, with the transverse carpal ligament enclosing it on the palm side. The median nerve, blood vessels, and finger flexor tendons run through this tunnel. During hand movements, the finger flexor tendons rub against the carpal tunnel walls and the median nerve.
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Where is the carpal tunnel located in the body?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) involves numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist caused by repetitive flexing or stressing of the fingers or wrist over a long period. The carpal tunnel is a small passage in the wrist almost completely surrounded by the carpal bones. On the palm side of the wrist, the tunnel is enclosed by the transverse carpal ligament, a tight band of fibrous tissue. The median nerve, several blood vessels, and nine finger flexor tendons run through the tunnel.
During hand movements, finger flexor tendons rub against the carpal tunnel walls and the median nerve. Repetitive movements, especially combined with forceful gripping, can cause the tendons or their surrounding sheaths to swell. Because the carpal tunnel has little room for expansion, the softest tissues, like the median nerve and blood vessels, become compressed, causing CTS symptoms.
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What important nerve passes through the carpal tunnel?
The most important nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel is the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when there is pressure on this nerve, which is a soft structure filled with fibers that carry nerve impulses between the hand and the spinal cord via the wrist joint. The carpal tunnel itself is a small passage in the wrist surrounded by carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament. When the median nerve is compressed, it can cause numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist and hand.
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How does pressure build up inside the carpal tunnel?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when there's increased pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. This small passage in the wrist is surrounded by carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament.
During repetitive finger and wrist movements, finger flexor tendons rub against the carpal tunnel walls and the median nerve. These tendons, though lubricated, can swell from repetitive motions and forceful gripping. Because the carpal tunnel has limited space, the swelling compresses the softest tissues: the median nerve and blood vessels. This compression results in numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand, which are the main symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
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How does increased pressure affect the nerve in the carpal tunnel?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) arises from pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel, a narrow passage in the wrist. This pressure results from the compression of the median nerve, which carries nerve impulses between the hand and spinal cord.
During hand and wrist movements, finger flexor tendons rub against the carpal tunnel walls and the median nerve. Repetitive motions, especially when combined with forceful gripping, can cause the tendons or their surrounding sheaths to swell. Because the carpal tunnel has limited space, the median nerve and blood vessels become compressed, leading to numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand, which are the main symptoms of CTS. Increased pressure on the median nerve can also cause temporary loss of hand muscle control and difficulty holding objects.
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What changes happen in the hand and fingers because of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can cause numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist due to repetitive flexing or stressing of the fingers or wrist over a long period of time. Pressure on the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, causes these sensations. The carpal tunnel is a small passage surrounded by carpal bones and the transverse carpal ligament.
Repetitive movements, especially when combined with forceful gripping, can cause swelling of the tendons or their surrounding sheaths. Because the carpal tunnel has limited space, the median nerve and blood vessels become compressed, leading to the primary symptoms of CTS. Increased pressure on the median nerve may also cause a temporary loss of control of some hand muscles and difficulties in holding objects.
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carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), condition of numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist caused by repetitive flexing or stressing of the fingers or wrist over a long period of time. Possibly the most common repetitive stress injury in the workplace, CTS is frequently associated with the modern office, where the computer has transformed the nature of the work people do with their hands and arms.
CTS is caused by pressure on the median nerve, a soft structure filled with fibres that carry nerve impulses back and forth between the hand and the spinal cord via the wrist joint. The wrist joint is formed by two rows of bones called the carpal bones (from Greek karpos, āwristā). The carpal tunnel is a small passage almost completely surrounded by the carpal bones. On the inner, or palm, side of the wrist, the tunnel is enclosed by a tight band of fibrous tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. Through the tunnel run the median nerve, several blood vessels, and nine finger flexor tendons. The tendons are rodlike structures that transmit forces from muscles in the forearm to the fingers and enable the fingers to close, as when making a fist.
During movements of the fingers and wrist, the finger flexor tendons rub against the walls of the carpal tunnel and the median nerve itself. Although the tendons are lubricated by a special tendon lining and by synovial fluid, certain repetitive movements, especially in combination with forceful gripping, may cause swelling of the tendons or the sheaths surrounding them. Because there is little room for expansion within the tight confinement of the carpal tunnel, the result of swelling is that the softest tissuesāthe median nerve and blood vesselsābecome compressed or pinched. This pressure causes the numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand that are the primary symptoms of CTS. If pressure on the median nerve increases, affected individuals may experience a temporary loss of control of some of the hand muscles and difficulties in picking up or holding objects. They may also be awakened at night by pain in the hand.
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CTS can occur in individuals who do repeated, forceful gripping and grasping hand motionsāas in the use of clippers, pliers, or power drillsāas a result of stress over the base of the palm, where the median nerve is protected only by the 3-mm- (0.1-inch-) thick transverse carpal ligament. Thus, individuals such as carpenters, painters, mechanics, knitters, and musicians tend to be at increased risk of CTS. Leaning the wrists on a desk or table while operating a computer can also place excessive pressure on the median nerve and may result in inflammation of the tendons and tissues surrounding the nerve. However, not all cases of CTS are work-related. Illnesses that cause tissue inflammationāfor example, arthritis, gout, hypothyroidism, or diabetes mellitusāmay affect the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. Swelling and bleeding associated with a fracture of the wrist may also put undue pressure on the nerve.
For cases of CTS caused by non-work-related problems, treatment is aimed at the underlying condition. If a case is caused by repetitive stress, then avoiding or reducing the activity responsible for the syndrome will often rapidly alleviate the symptoms. Frequent resting of the hand and recourse to stretching exercises for the hands, elbows, shoulders, and neck muscles will decrease symptoms over a period of time. The wearing of a brace or splint will support the wrist, relieve overworked wrist structures, and help to prevent reinjury of healing tissues. The taking of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen will frequently reduce swelling of the tendon sheaths. More-serious cases can be relieved immediately by the injection of prescription steroidal drugs. Surgery is also sometimes necessary to correct the condition. Whether done as a traditional open incision or as less-invasive endoscopy, the surgery aims to relieve pressure within the carpal tunnel by cutting the transverse carpal ligament. Surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis, but healing and recovery can take weeks or months.