{"id":4242,"date":"2021-02-02T01:22:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T00:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/cubital-fossa\/"},"modified":"2021-02-02T13:39:03","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T12:39:03","slug":"cubital-fossa","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/cubital-fossa\/","title":{"rendered":"Cubital fossa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The cubital fossa is a triangular-shaped depression seen opposite to the elbow. It marks the transition between the arm and the forearm.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Borders<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Superior (base)<\/strong><\/td>A line extending between the medial and lateral epicondyles (intercondylar line)<\/td><\/tr>
Medial<\/strong><\/td>Pronator teres muscle<\/td><\/tr>
Lateral<\/strong><\/td>Brachioradialis muscle<\/td><\/tr>
Floor (bed)<\/strong><\/td>Brachialis muscle (medially) and the supinator muscles of the arm (laterally)<\/td><\/tr>
Roof<\/strong><\/td>Brachial and antebrachial fascia and the bicipital aponeurosis, subcutaneous tissue, and skin<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Table 1. Borders of the cubital fossa<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

Contents<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

The contents of the cubital fossa from medial to lateral are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • The median nerve<\/strong><\/li>
  • The brachial artery<\/strong><\/li>
  • The tendon of the biceps brachii<\/strong> muscle<\/li>
  • (Deep) accompanying veins<\/strong><\/li>
  • Radial nerve<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Generally, the major components are the median nerve, brachial artery, and tendon of the biceps brachii muscle, as they are visible immediately once the subcutaneous tissue and fasciae are removed.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

    Mnemonic<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

    An easy way to memorize the contents is using the mnemonic M<\/strong>y B<\/strong>rother T<\/strong>eaches A<\/strong>mazing R<\/strong>abbits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • M: median nerve<\/li>
    • B: brachial artery<\/li>
    • T: tendon (of the biceps brachii muscle)<\/li>
    • A: (deep) accompanying veins<\/li>
    • R: radial nerve<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Median nerve<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The median nerve enters the cubital fossa, runs medially to the bra\u00adchial artery and exits the fossa between the ulnar and humeral heads of the pronator teres; it continues to pass deep to palmaris longus tendon before reaching the flexor retinaculum to cross the carpal tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Brachial artery<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The brachial artery is situated between the median nerve and the biceps tendon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      At the apex of the fossa, the brachial artery divides into its two branches, the radial and ulnar arteries (for some individuals, this bifurcation may occur more proximal, as in the arm or axilla, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The brachial artery and median nerve are enclosed by the aponeurosis of the biceps.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Ulnar artery<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The ulnar artery is the larger of the two terminal branches of the brachial artery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The artery runs inferomedially and continues inferiorly, deep to the pronator teres and palmaris longus, and between the layers of the superficial flexor digitorum to arrive at the medial side of the forearm. <\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Radial artery<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The radial artery reaches the fossa between brachialis and brachioradialis. It divides into terminal superficial and deep branches at a point anterior to the lateral epicondyle. Along its course in the forearm, the artery runs to form an imaginary line that joins a point in the middle of the cubital fossa to a point medial to the radial styloid process.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Tendon of the biceps brachii muscle<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The tendon of biceps branchii passes lateral to the midline of the fossa where it can be easily palpated.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      (Deep) accompanying veins<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The median cubital vein<\/strong> is found superficially, within the roof of the cubital fossa. It is found anteriorly to the brachial artery and the medial and lateral cutaneous nerves and crosses the roof to join the cephalic vein with the basilic vein. The bicipital aponeurosis separates the brachial artery and median nerve from the median cubital vein.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Radial nerve <\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      The radial nerve is found below the margin of the brachiora\u00addialis muscle, a point at which it splits into superficial and deep branches. The superficial division continues into the forearm below the brachioradialis muscle, while the deep branch runs between the heads of the supinator muscle until it reaches the posterior part of the forearm.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Surface anatomy: important landmarks<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      In the cubital fossa the tendon of the biceps brachii <\/strong>is palpated lateral to the midline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When a tourniquet is applied at the arm, the cephalic vein<\/strong>, the basilic veins<\/strong>, and the median cubital vein<\/strong> are visible when a tourniquet is applied to the arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      When pressure is applied at the cubital fossa, the muscular bulge of the long flexors <\/strong>of the forearm forms the medial border, the pronator teres most directly.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n

      Clinical information<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n

      When measuring blood pressure, the stethoscope should be placed below the cuff, over the brachial artery in the cubital fossa.
      <\/p>\n<\/span>

      Borders<\/h4>

      Contents<\/h3>

      Mnemonic<\/h4>

      Median nerve<\/h4>

      Brachial artery<\/h4>

      Ulnar artery<\/h4>

      Radial artery<\/h4>

      Tendon of the biceps brachii muscle<\/h4>

      (Deep) accompanying veins<\/h4>

      Radial nerve <\/h4>

      Surface anatomy: important landmarks<\/h3>

      Clinical information<\/h3><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Borders Superior (base) A line extending between the medial and lateral epicondyles (intercondylar line) Medial Pronator teres muscle Lateral Brachioradialis muscle Floor (bed) Brachialis muscle (medially) and the supinator muscles of the arm (laterally) Roof Brachial and antebrachial fascia and the bicipital aponeurosis, subcutaneous tissue, and skin Table 1. Borders of the cubital fossa Contents […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3466,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4242","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nCubital fossa – Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/upper-limb\/arm\/cubital-fossa\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" 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