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Information about Antecubital Fossa

Ulnar and radial arteries. Deep view.
Nerves of the left upper extremity.
Latinfossa cubitalis
Dorlands/Elsevier f_14/12375853


The cubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior view of the elbow joint of the arm.

Boundaries

The boundaries of the cubital fossa include the following:

Contents

The cubital fossa contains three main vertical structures (from lateral to medial): When the radial nerve is included, one can also use the mnemonic for lateral to medial: "Really Need Beer To Be At My Nicest".[1] When the radial nerve is excluded, one can use the mnemonic TAN, for "Tendon Artery Nerve".

The ulnar nerve is also in the area, but is not in the cubital fossa; it occupies a groove on the posterior aspect of the medial epicondyle of the humerus.

Several veins are also in the area (for example, the median cubital vein, cephalic vein, and basilic vein) but these are usually considered superficial to the cubital fossa, and not part of its contents.

Clinical aspects

During blood pressure measurements, the stethoscope is placed over the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. The cubital fossa is also an area used to palpate for the brachial pulse.

The area just superficial to the cubital fossa is often used for venous access (phlebotomy). A number of superficial veins can cross this region. Historically, back when (venous) blood-letting was practiced, the bicipital aponeurosis (the ceiling of the cubital fossa) was known as the "grace of God" tendon because it protected the contents of the fossa (i.e. the brachial artery and the median nerve).

Additional images


Superficial veins of the upper limb.

Front of right upper extremity.

Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves.


See also

References

External links

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General anatomy of upper limbs
Arm
Forearm
Hand
Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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elbow-joint is a ginglymus or hinge joint. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm.

The bony prominence at the very tip of the elbow is the olecranon process of the ulna.
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An arm is an upper limb of the body.

Arm (or arms) may also refer to:
  • Armaments, weapons; as in Small arms, Right to bear arms
  • Eta Capricorni, a star, traditional name "Arm"

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Not to be confused with Fuchsia.


Fascia (făsh'ē-ə), pl. fas·ci·ae (făsh'ē-ē), adj. fascial (făsh'ē-əl) (from latin: a band) is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue system that
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The bicipital aponeurosis (also known as lacertus fibrosus) is a broad aponeurosis of the biceps brachii which is located in the cubital fossa of the elbow and separates superficial from deep structures in much of the fossa.
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The brachialis (brachialis anticus) is a muscle in the upper arm that flexes the elbow joint. It lies just deep to biceps brachii, and is a more powerful flexor of the elbow. It makes up part of the floor of the region known as the cubital fossa.
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The Supinator is a broad muscle, curved around the upper third of the radius.

Origin and insertion

It consists of two planes of fibers, between which the deep branch of the radial nerve lies.
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The medial epicondyle of the humerus, larger and more prominent than the lateral epicondyle, is directed a little backward. In birds, where the arm is somewhat rotated compared to other tetrapods, it is called ventral epicondyle of the humerus.
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The lateral epicondyle of the humerus is a small, tuberculated eminence, curved a little forward, and giving attachment to the radial collateral ligament of the elbow-joint, and to a tendon common to the origin of the Supinator and some of the Extensor muscles.
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The pronator teres is a muscle of the human body (located mainly in the forearm) that, along with the pronator quadratus, serves to pronate the forearm (turning it so the palm faces downward).

Structure

The pronator teres has two heads--humeral and ulnar.
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Brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm.
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The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm.
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Brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm.
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The brachialis (brachialis anticus) is a muscle in the upper arm that flexes the elbow joint. It lies just deep to biceps brachii, and is a more powerful flexor of the elbow. It makes up part of the floor of the region known as the cubital fossa.
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For other uses, see biceps.


In human anatomy, the biceps brachii is a muscle located on the upper arm. The biceps has several functions, the most important simply being to flex the elbow and to rotate the forearm.
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A tendon (or sinew) is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone and is built to withstand tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments except that ligaments join one bone to another.
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The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm.

It is a continuation of the axillary artery and it originates from the lower margin of teres major muscle and continues down the arm, until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow.
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In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.

Course

The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa.
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The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspect of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial artery.
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The median nerve is a nerve that runs down the arm and forearm. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus.

The median nerve is formed from parts of the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus, and continues down the arm to enter the
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In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs from the shoulder to the hand, at one part running near the ulna bone. It is the only exposed nerve in the human body (it is unprotected for a few centimeters at the elbow).
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Medial epicondyle can refer to:
  • Medial epicondyle of the humerus (ventral epicondyle in birds)
  • Medial epicondyle of the femur

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In human anatomy, the median cubital vein (or median basilic vein) a superficial vein of the upper limb. It connects the basilic and cephalic vein and is often used for venipuncture (taking blood). It lies in the cubital fossa superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis.
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In human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb.

It communicates with the basilic vein via the median cubital vein at the elbow and is located in the superficial fascia along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle.
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In human anatomy, the basilic vein is a large superficial vein of the upper limb that helps drain parts of hand and forearm. It originates on the medial (ulnar) side of the dorsal venous network of the hand, and it travels up the base of the forearm and arm.
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Phlebotomy may refer to:
  • Venipuncture, the practice of collecting blood samples. It is also the recommended treatment for haemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder.
  • Bloodletting, the ancient medical practice

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vein is a blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart. The majority of veins in the body carry low-oxygen blood from the tissues back to the heart; the exceptions being the pulmonary and umbilical veins which both carry oxygenated blood.
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The bicipital aponeurosis (also known as lacertus fibrosus) is a broad aponeurosis of the biceps brachii which is located in the cubital fossa of the elbow and separates superficial from deep structures in much of the fossa.
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peripherally inserted central catheter- (PICC or PIC line) is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time, e.g. for long chemotherapy regimens, extended antibiotic therapy or total parenteral nutrition.
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