A small carpal bone in the wrist with a distinctive hook-like projection, located on the inner side of the hand near the pinky finger side.
From Latin hamatus meaning 'hooked,' referring to the bone's characteristic hook-shaped projection that extends from its body.
The hamate is one of the seven carpal bones you never hear about, but it's crucial—it anchors muscles and tendons that let you grip and it's frequently fractured in baseball and racquet sports!
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