What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Briefly, Anatomically, the skin and muscles of the forearm , hand and fingers are innervated by three major nerves, which are; the Median, the Radial and the Ulnar nerves. These nerves can be susceptible to injuries and compression at different locations on their paths as they innervate the skin and muscles of the forearm, hand and fingers.

Having established that, the carpal tunnel is a relatively narrow passageway that is formed anteriorly by the flexor retinaculum and posteriorly by the carpal bones. The median nerve which is the most superficial structure and the long flexor tendons for the digits (such as the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle and the flexor digitorum profundus muscle tendons) pass through this tunnel. Compression injury to the median nerve will result in a condition known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The median nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the palmar aspect of the thumb and first two or three digits, in addition to supplying some of the muscles of the hand. Therefore, these aforementioned structures would be mostly affected by compression injury to the median nerve, leading to paraesthesia, pain and atrophy of the muscles.
The compression on the median nerve is caused by irritation or inflammation of the flexor muscle tendons. So , Basically, The inflammation of the flexor muscle tendons causes a rise in pressure within the tunnel, leading to compression of the median nerve, with subsequent pain, weakness or numbness in the hand which may radiate up the arm. In addition, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is 3 times more likely to affect woman with occupational tasks such as keyboard