Lister's tubercle or dorsal tubercle of radius is a bony prominence located at the

distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...

end of the

radius In classical geometry, a radius ( : radii) of a circle or sphere is any of the line segments from its center to its perimeter, and in more modern usage, it is also their length. The name comes from the latin ''radius'', meaning ray but also the ...

. It is

palpable Palpation is the process of using one's hands to check the body, especially while perceiving/diagnosing a disease or illness. Usually performed by a health care practitioner, it is the process of feeling an object in or on the body to determine ...

on the dorsum of the

wrist In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as (1) the Carpal bones, carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand; "The wrist contains eight bones, roughly aligned in two rows, known ...

Structure

Lister's tubercle is found on the dorsal distal radius. It varies in size and shape significantly. It can range from around 2 to 6 mm in

height Height is measure of vertical distance, either vertical extent (how "tall" something or someone is) or vertical position (how "high" a point is). For example, "The height of that building is 50 m" or "The height of an airplane in-flight is abou ...

(averaging 3 mm), and around 6 to 26 mm in

length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a base unit for length is chosen, from which all other units are derived. In the Interna ...

(averaging 13 mm).

Function

Lister's

tubercle In anatomy, a tubercle (literally 'small tuber', Latin for 'lump') is any round nodule, small eminence, or warty outgrowth found on external or internal organs of a plant or an animal. In plants A tubercle is generally a wart-like projection ...

serves as a pulley for the tendon of

extensor pollicis longus In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis longus muscle (EPL) is a skeletal muscle located dorsally on the forearm. It is much larger than the extensor pollicis brevis, the origin of which it partly covers and acts to stretch the thumb together with ...

, which wraps around the medial side and takes a 45° turn.

Clinical significance

Lister's tubercle is used as a useful landmark during

wrist arthroscopy Wrist arthroscopy can be used to look inside the joint of the wrist. It is a minimally invasive technique which can be utilized for diagnostic purposes as well as for therapeutic interventions. Wrist arthroscopy has been used for diagnostic purpos ...

and other wrist surgery. It is palpable on the dorsum of the wrist. It is often difficult to clearly distinguish with

radiography Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeut ...

Hyperextension Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relative ...

of the wrist can lead to

fracture Fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacement discontinuity surfaces within the solid. If a displa ...

of Lister's tubercle, as pressure is increased from the extensor pollicis longus tendon. An "island-shaped" fracture can also expose the tendon to a rough edge and lead to

tendon rupture Tendon rupture is a condition in which a tendon separates in whole or in part from tissue to which it is attached, or is itself torn or otherwise divided in whole or in part. Examples include: * Achilles tendon rupture * Biceps tendon rupture * An ...

(usually long after the initial fracture).

References

{{Authority control Orthopedic surgical procedures Bones of the upper limb Upper limb anatomy Forearm Radius (bone) Anatomy Articles containing video clips