Carpal canal

The carpal canal is a canal between the proximal row of carpal bones and retinaculum flexorum on the palmar side of the carpus.

In dogs, the canal contains the tendons and synovial sheaths of the flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus, and the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis as well as the radial, median, and caudal interosseous arteries and veins, and the ulnar and median nerves. The boundaries of the canal are:

• Superficially: superficial part of the flexor retinaculum
• Deeply: palmar carpal fibrocartilage and palmar part of the joint capsule
• Laterally: accessory carpal bone