The cubital fossa is a triangular depression located on the anterior side of the elbow. It is bounded by the brachioradialis muscle laterally, the pronator teres muscle medially, and an imaginary line connecting the medial and lateral epicondyles superiorly. The floor is formed by the brachialis muscle. The main contents of the cubital fossa are the biceps brachii tendon laterally, the brachial artery in the middle, and the median nerve medially. The brachial artery often bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries within the cubital fossa. The median nerve passes deep between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle when
2. • The cubital fossa is an important area of
transition between the arm and the forearm.
• It is located anterior to the elbow joint and is a
triangular depression formed between two
forearm muscles:
• The brachioradialis muscle originating from
the lateral supraepicondylar ridge of the
humerus;
• The pronator teres muscle originating from
the medial epicondyle of the humerus
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3. • The boundaries of the cubital fossa are:
• Superiorly--an imaginary line connecting the
medial and lateral epicondyles.
• Medially--the pronator teres.
• Laterally--the brachioradialis.
The base of the triangle is an imaginary
horizontal line between the medial and lateral
epicondyles.
The bed or floor of the fossa is formed mainly
by the brachialis muscle.
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5. CONTENTS OF CUBITAL FOSSA
• The major contents of the cubital fossa, from
lateral to medial, are:
• The tendon of the biceps brachii muscle;
• The terminal part of brachial artery;
• The median nerve.
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6. • The brachial artery normally bifurcates
into the radial and ulnar arteries in the
apex of the fossa, although this
bifurcation may occur much higher in the
arm, even in the axilla.
• When taking a blood pressure reading
from a patient, the clinician places the
stethoscope over the brachial artery in
the cubital fossa.
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7. • The median nerve lies immediately medial to the
brachial artery and leaves the fossa by passing
between the ulnar and humeral heads of the
pronator teres muscle.
• The brachial artery and the median nerve are
covered and protected anteriorly in the distal
part of the cubital fossa by the bicipital
aponeurosis.
• This flat connective tissue membrane passes
between the medial side of the tendon of the
biceps brachii muscle and deep fascia of the
forearm.
• The sharp medial margin of the bicipital
aponeurosis can often be felt.
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8. • The radial nerve lies just under the lip of the
brachioradialis muscle, which forms the lateral
margin of the fossa.
• In this position, the radial nerve divides into
superficial and deep branches: the superficial
branch continues into the forearm just deep
to the brachioradialis muscle;
• the deep branch passes between the two
heads of the supinator muscle to access the
posterior compartment of the forearm.
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9. • The roof of the cubital fossa is formed by superficial
fascia and skin.
• The most important structure within the roof is the
median cubital vein, which passes diagonally across
the roof and connects the cephalic vein on the lateral
side of the upper limb with the basilic vein on the
medial side.
• The bicipital aponeurosis separates the median cubital
vein from the brachial artery and median nerve.
• Other structures within the roof are cutaneous nervesthe medial cutaneous and lateral cutaneous nerves of
the forearm.
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