Anatomy: Antecubital Fossa

Question 1

What are the contents of the antecubital fossa?

Answer 1

Radial nerve - gives rise to the posterior intraosseous branch
Biceps tendon - inserts into the tuberosity of the radius
Brachial artery - which then bifurcates into the radial (superficial) and ulnar (deeper) arteries at the apex of the fossa
Median nerve

A simple mnemonic to remember the contents of the fossa is ’Really Need Booze To Be At My Nicest’ (RN, BT, BA, MN).

Question 2

The median nerve leaves the antecubital fossa by passing between the two heads of pronator teres. What does it supply?

Answer 2

Motor: most of the long flexors of the forearm and the thenar muscles

Sensory (cutaneous): skin of the elbow, wrist and radial aspect of the palm of the hand

Question 3

The bicipital aponeurosis is a part of the roof of the antecubital fossa T/F

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The biceps brachii is a part of the floor of the antecubital fossa T/F

Answer 4

False

Question 5

The median cubital vein lies deep to the bicipital aponeurosis T/F

Answer 5

False

Question 6

The bicipital aponeurosis lies superficial to the brachial artery T/F

Answer 6

True

Question 7

The lateral border of the fossa is formed by the medial border of the brachioradialis muscle T/F

Answer 7

True

Question 8

The median nerve is lateral to the brachial artery in the fossa T/F

Answer 8

False. The median nerve is medial to the brachial artery.

Question 9

The median nerve supplies the muscles of the thenar eminence T/F

Answer 9

True

Question 10

The radial nerve is lateral to the biceps tendon T/F

Answer 10

True

Question 11

The bicipital aponeurosis lies superficial to the median nerve T/F

Answer 11

True

Question 12

The median nerve exits the fossa by passing between the two heads of the supinator muscle T/F

Answer 12

False. The median nerve exits the fossa by passing between the two heads of the pronator teres muscle.