What is the anatomy of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint?
The first CMC is the basal joint of the thumb, the one that articulates its metacarpal bone to the trapezium of
the wrist. It is a small joint for man, but a giant one for mankind, since it allowed our ancestors to oppose their thumb, which they then used to grasp objects and create “tools,” which they then used to whack other
fellow hominids, thus taking the first and fundamental step in the evolution of our species—one that
eventually gave us the name of Homo faber (i.e., the one who creates). Or whacks.
The first CMC is the basal joint of the thumb, the one that articulates its metacarpal bone to the trapezium of
the wrist. It is a small joint for man, but a giant one for mankind, since it allowed our ancestors to oppose their thumb, which they then used to grasp objects and create “tools,” which they then used to whack other
fellow hominids, thus taking the first and fundamental step in the evolution of our species—one that
eventually gave us the name of Homo faber (i.e., the one who creates). Or whacks.