Sangole AP, Levin MF (2008) Arches of the hand in reach to grasp. Journal of Biomechanics. 41: 829-37

The hand is described by its palmar and dorsal surfaces that encompass a hollow cavity that changes its shape during hand preshaping and grasping according to the object to be grasped. The hollow cavity is described by three arches that run in different directions: transverse, longitudinal and oblique spanning the palmar surface of the hand. This article explores the modulation in the palmar arches during actual grasping. The authors also introduce another biomechanical formulation of the palmar arch that they call the kinematic transverse arch. This takes account of the thenar and hypothenar involvement in arch formation.