The hook is a curved, hook-like process that projects 1–2 mm distally and radially.

[5] The bone is also found in many other mammals, and is homologous with the "fourth distal carpal" of reptiles and amphibians.

The hook of hamate is particularly prone to fracture-related complications such as non-union due to its tenuous blood supply.

[13] The calcification of the hamate bone is seen on X-rays during puberty and is sometimes used in orthodontics to determine if an adolescent patient is suitable for orthognathic intervention (i.e. before or at their growth spurt).

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 227 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)