scaphoid bone

1 7.8

A small wrist bone on the thumb side that often breaks in falls

noun
/ˈskæfoʊɪd boʊn/

Specialized

: hueso escafoides

Did you injure your scaphoid bone during the game?

Examples

Proper immobilization is crucial for healing a scaphoid bone fracture.
A break in the scaphoid bone can cause persistent pain and swelling in the wrist.
The doctor suspected a fracture of the scaphoid bone after he fell on his outstretched hand.
The scaphoid bone is crucial for wrist movement.
The doctor explained that the injury was to the scaphoid bone in his wrist.
After falling off his bike, he had pain in his scaphoid bone, which is crucial for thumb movement.
An X-ray showed a fracture in the scaphoid bone, a common site for wrist injuries.

Synonyms

carpal bone

vsscaphoid bone

Specialized

1 4.8

One of the eight small bones in the wrist between the forearm and the hand

is the single largest bone at the thumb side rather than any of the eight

wrist bone

vsscaphoid bone

Specialized

1 3.0

Small bones in the wrist that help the hand move

is the largest bone on the thumb side rather than any of the eight small bones

os scaphoideum

vsscaphoid bone

Specialized

9.3

A bone near the base of the thumb that is the largest bone in the wrist

is the common English name used in plain anatomical contexts

Surface Forms

scaphoid bone singular

scaphoid bones plural

Morphology

scaphoid + bone

The adjective 'scaphoid' literally means 'boat-shaped', so 'scaphoid bone' compositionally denotes a bone that has a boat-like shape. However, the exact referent (the specific carpal bone on the thumb side of the wrist and its clinical relevance) is specialized anatomical knowledge not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so understanding is only partial.

Etymology

Scaphoid bone comes from a Greek word meaning 'boat'. The small wrist bone near the thumb looks a little like a tiny boat, so the name points to its shape and helps you remember which wrist bone it is.