Hamate

The hamate is a small, hook-shaped carpal bone of the wrist that may be readily distinguished by its wedge-shaped form.

The hamate has a hooked-shaped projection that can (rarely) become fractured, for example, after a fall or when a golfer strikes a solid object such as a tree root with the club in mid-swing. A hook of hamate fracture can also be caused by repetitive impact associated with sports activities such as cycling, baseball, and tennis.