anotemy
Sign in
Try it free
Carpal Bones Mnemonic: Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle
The mnemonic “Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle” gives the proximal row of carpal bones lateral to medial (scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform), then the distal row lateral to medial (trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate). Here, lateral means the thumb side.
The mnemonic
The mnemonic “Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle” is a common way to recall the eight carpal bones in their anatomical order. Each word begins with the same letter as a carpal bone, and the phrase moves across the wrist first from lateral to medial in the proximal row, then lateral to medial in the distal row. The first four words name the proximal row: scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform. The last four words name the distal row: trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate.
When the palm faces forward in anatomical position, lateral means the thumb side of the wrist. So “Some” starts at the scaphoid just below the thumb, “Lovers” is the lunate, “Try” is the triquetrum, and “Positions” is the pisiform on the little-finger side. Then you return to the thumb side for the distal row: “That” is the trapezium, “They” is the trapezoid, “Can't” is the capitate, and “Handle” is the hamate.
You can also think of the mnemonic as two stacked rows rather than one long line: the proximal row sits closer to the radius and ulna, while the distal row sits closer to the metacarpals. Saying the phrase out loud while pointing to each bone on your own wrist helps lock the order in. If you want a quick visual check, anotemy opens a body structure in 3D from the word you type, so you can pair the mnemonic with a rotating wrist view.
What each word stands for
The table below breaks the mnemonic into the eight words, the bone each word represents, and whether the bone belongs to the proximal or distal row. Read it left to right as the mnemonic runs, then quiz yourself by covering the bone column and saying the eight carpal bones in order.
Two pairs are easy to confuse: trapezium and trapezoid, and triquetrum and pisiform. The mnemonic order keeps them separate because “That” (trapezium) comes before “They” (trapezoid), and “Try” (triquetrum) comes before “Positions” (pisiform). Notice that the proximal row is four bones starting with S, L, T, P, while the distal row is T, T, C, H.
| Word | Bone | Row |
|---|---|---|
| Some | Scaphoid | Proximal |
| Lovers | Lunate | Proximal |
| Try | Triquetrum | Proximal |
| Positions | Pisiform | Proximal |
| That | Trapezium | Distal |
| They | Trapezoid | Distal |
| Can't | Capitate | Distal |
| Handle | Hamate | Distal |
Trapezium or trapezoid?
The last two bones of the distal row often trip students up because their names look similar and they sit side by side. The trick is to remember that the trapezium is the bone closest to your thumb: 'trapeziUM by the thUMb.' Both words share the letters 'um,' and the trapezium is indeed the most lateral bone of the distal row, articulating directly with the base of the first metacarpal to form the thumb's carpometacarpal joint. The trapezoid, on the other hand, is the smallest bone of the distal row and sits between the trapezium and the capitate. When you're labeling a diagram, point to your own thumb and then to the bone just under it; that's the trapezium. The next bone moving toward the pinky side is the trapezoid.
A quick way to lock this in is to say the phrase while touching each bone: 'trapeziUM by the thUMb' for the trapezium, and 'trapezoid is the one that's not by the thumb' for its neighbor. Because the trapezium is so involved in thumb movement, it's also a common site for osteoarthritis, which can help you remember that it's the bone under the thumb that takes the most wear. The trapezoid's small size and more central position make it less likely to be the one you point to when you think of the thumb, so the 'UM by thUMb' rule keeps them straight.
Make it stick
- Learn the bones on your own hand: use your opposite thumb and fingers to feel the bony landmarks on the back of your wrist. Start at the base of your thumb and move toward your pinky, naming each carpal bone as you go. The trapezium is first, then the trapezoid, capitate, and hamate in the distal row. For the proximal row, find the scaphoid in the 'anatomical snuffbox' just beyond the radius, then the lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform (which is easiest to feel as a small pea-sized bone on the palm side).
- Draw the two rows and label them from memory. Fold a piece of paper into four quadrants and sketch the outline of the wrist bones: proximal row on top, distal row on bottom. Without looking at any reference, write the names in order. Check your work against a diagram and correct any mistakes with a different color.
- Use the mnemonic 'Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle' each time you recite the order. Practice saying the bones out loud while pointing to the corresponding spot on your drawing or your own wrist. Repeat the sequence until you can say all eight without pausing.
- Quiz yourself with a blank diagram: print or draw an unlabeled wrist, then fill in the bones from memory. Do this once after learning, then again an hour later, and once more the next day. Spacing out your recall like this moves the names from short-term to long-term memory.
- Turn it into a game: shuffle index cards with each bone name and try to place them on a diagram or on your own wrist in the correct order. Time yourself and aim to beat your previous time. The physical act of placing the card adds another layer of memory.