capitatum

Capitatum is a Latin term meaning “head,” used in various scientific contexts to denote a head-like feature. In anatomy, it most often refers to the os capitatum, the capitate bone, which is the largest bone of the carpal (wrist) bones and serves as a central stabilizer of the wrist.

The capitate lies at the center of the carpus. Its proximal surface articulates with the scaphoid and lunate; its distal surface articulates with the bases of the second, third, and fourth metacarpals. The bone’s lateral (radial) side contacts the trapezoid, while its medial (ulnar) side relates to the hamate, positioning the capitate as a key link between the proximal and distal carpal rows and the metacarpals.

Clinical notes include its susceptibility to injury in high-energy trauma. Capitate fractures, though relatively uncommon, can be difficult to detect on initial imaging and may risk complications such as nonunion or avascular necrosis due to the bone’s central location and blood supply. Management depends on fracture pattern and displacement, ranging from immobilization to surgical fixation.

Other uses of capitatum appear in taxonomy, where capitatum is an epithet in Latinized species names. In medical and anatomical contexts, the term appears in phrases such as os capitatum to denote the capitate bone itself. The word reflects the broader Latin root caput, meaning head, applied across disciplines to describe head-like or central features.