Dorsal ulnocarpal ligament

The dorsal ulnocarpal ligament (DUCL) is a dorsally located extrinsic ligament of the ulnar wrist that contributes to stabilization of the ulnocarpal and distal radioulnar joints. It is described more as a ligamentous complex (ulnocarpal ligamentous complex; UCLC) than a single ligament.

The ulnocarpal ligamentous complex arises from a common origin at the fovea of the ulnar head and the base of the ulnar styloid and is conventionally divided into the ulnocapitate, ulnolunate, and ulnotriquetral ligaments though, macroscopically, these three ligaments are often confluent and indistinguishable from each other.

The ulnotriquetral, ulnocapitate, and ulnolunate ligaments originate together at the fovea of the ulnar head and the base of the ulnar styloid. These ligaments, along with the palmar radioulnar (RU) ligament, extend distally like a fan in the coronal plane and insert at the palmar aspects of the triquetrum, capitate, and lunate. The three ligaments of the UCLC merge firmly with the palmar RU ligament. The palmar RU ligament also merges with the dorsal RU ligament on the ulnar side, and they attach together on the ulnar fovea and the ulnar styloid process.