The trapezium articulates with the base of thumb and is thus a critical component of thumb mobility and stability. In the modern human trapezium, relatively large and flat first metacarpal (Mc1) and coronally-oriented second metacarpal (Mc2) articular facets are part of a suite of morphological adaptations thought to enable forceful thumb opposition during pad-to-pad precision grips, to the exclusion of other extant hominids. Aspects of trapezial morphology have been used to infer tool-use in fossil hominins; however, we have comparatively less understanding of how the trapezium is loaded in non-human hominids. As trabecular bone can (re)model in response to mechanical loading over an individual’s lifetime, it may provide additional functional information about thumb loading and use in these extant apes. Canonical holistic morphometric analysis (cHMA) is used to statistically compare the distribution of trabecular bone density (BV/TV) across Homo sapiens, (n=10), Pan paniscus, (n=10), Pan troglodytes, (n=10), Gorilla gorilla, (n=10), and Pongo sp. (n=7). Homo sapiens has high BV/TV under the radial portion of the Mc1 facet and scaphoid facet, consistent with habitual loading from an abducted thumb during forceful thumb opposition. Gorilla shows high BV/TV under the ulnar portion of Mc1 facet that extends through to the Mc2 facet, consistent with habitual loading from an adducted thumb, such as during pad-to-side grips. Both species of Pan, and Pongo, possess spatially homogeneous trabeculae throughout the trapezium, suggesting less stereotypical loading of the thumb. These functional signals provide a broader comparative context with which to interpret fossil hominin thumb use.