Cubital Fossa
Anatomy
The cubital fossa is a
triangular space in front of the elbow joint, bounded laterally by
brachioradialis and medially by pronator teres (Fig. 3.28). By convention, the fossa is limited proximally
by an imaginary line drawn between the two humeral epicondyles. The roof is
formed by deep fascia, reinforced by the aponeurosis of biceps (Fig. 3.26).
The subcutaneous tissue overlying the roof contains branches of the lateral and medial cutaneous nerves of forearm and superficial veins such as the median cubital vein, which links the cephalic and basilic veins (Fig. 3.25). The arrangement of these superficial veins, which are often punctured to obtain samples of blood for laboratory analysis, may vary considerably between individuals.
The subcutaneous tissue overlying the roof contains branches of the lateral and medial cutaneous nerves of forearm and superficial veins such as the median cubital vein, which links the cephalic and basilic veins (Fig. 3.25). The arrangement of these superficial veins, which are often punctured to obtain samples of blood for laboratory analysis, may vary considerably between individuals.
The fossa is traversed by
nerves and vessels passing between the arm and the forearm. Its contents (Figs
3.27 & 3.29), embedded in fatty connective tissue, are, from medial to
lateral, the median nerve, the brachial artery and its venae comitantes, the
tendon of biceps and the radial nerve. Distally, the terminal branches of the
radial nerve, the superficial and deep radial (posterior interosseous) nerves,
and the terminal branches of the brachial artery (namely the radial and ulnar
arteries) also lie within the fossa. The floor of the cubital fossa (Fig. 3.29) is formed by
supinator and brachialis overlying the capsule of the elbow joint.
