Definition: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. As a result, the hand and wrist may experience:
- pain
- weakness
- numbness (may radiate up the arm)
The carpal tunnel receives its name from the 8 "carpal" bones in the wrist. The carpal "tunnel" is a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand that houses the median nerve and tendons. The median nerve runs down the forearm into the hand controlling sensations to the:
- thumb (palm side)
- fingers (not the little finger)
- hand muscles (impulses controlling finger/thumb movement)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "disorders associated with repeated trauma" account for about 60% of all occupational illnesses. Of all these disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome is the condition most frequently reported.
According to YourDictionary.com, "carpal tunnel" and "carpal tunnel syndrome" are one of the 100 most often mispronounced and misspelled English phrases. Common mistakes include:
- carpool tunnel or carpool tunnel syndrome
- carple tunnel or carple tunnel syndrome
- carpul tunnel or carpul tunnel syndrome
- carpal tunnle or carpal tunnle syndrome
- carpal tunel or carpal tunel syndrome
- carpal tunnell or carpal tunnell syndrome
- carpal tunal or carpal tunal syndrome
- carpal tunnal or carpal tunnal syndrome
- carpal tunnel sydrome or carpal tunnel syndrum
Source: NIH Pub. No 03-4898
Pronunciation: CAR-pull TUN-nel SIN-drome
Also Known As: repetitive motion injury, repetitive stress injury, entrapment neuropathy (carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common of the entrapment neuropathies where the peripheral nerves are compressed)
