Final answer:
The proximal row of carpal bones from lateral to medial are scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform, arranged to facilitate wrist movement and hand functionality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proximal row of carpal bones in true anatomical position, from lateral to medial, consist of the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and pisiform bones. An easy way to remember their placement is using the mnemonic 'So Long To Pinky, Here Comes The Thumb', which starts with the scaphoid on the lateral side. These bones are essential for wrist articulation, and together with the distal row, they allow complex movements of the hand.
Among the carpal bones, the scaphoid bone is famed for its boat shape and is one of the most frequently fractured carpal bones due to its position and the forces exerted upon it during falls on the outstretched hand. The lunate bone, with its crescent shape, and the triquetrum also play significant roles in forming the radiocarpal joint. Furthest to the medial side, the small, pea-shaped pisiform bone articulates with the anterior surface of the triquetrum and is palpable at the base of the medial hand.