Antecubital fossa Flashcards
What makes the lateral border of the cubital fossa?
-Medial border of brachioradiales
What forms the medial border of the cubital fossa?
-The lateral border of pronator teres
What makes the superior border of the cubital fossa?
-An imaginary line between the two epicondyles
What forms the floor of the cubital fossa?
- Brachialis
- Supinator
What forms the roof of the cubital fossa?
-Skin, fascia and bicipital aponeurosis
What is the bicipital aponeurosis?
-Sheath of tendon-like material arising from the tendon of biceps brachii which overlays the brachial artery and median nerve for protection
What clinical significance does the roof of the antecubital fossa have?
-Contains the medial cubital vein, a connection between basilic and cephalic veins, which is a common site of venepuncture
What are the contents of the cubital fossa?
-Radial nerve (not strictly but within the vicinity)
-Tendon of biceps brachii
-Brachial artery
-Median nerve
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Where is the brachial pulse palpated?
-Immediately next to biceps brachii tendon
What is the clinical significance of a supracondylar fracture, relating to the cubital fossa?
- Displacement of the fragments or post-fracture swelling can lead to compression of the contents
- Compression of brachial artery can lead to volkmans ischaemic contracture
What is Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture?
-Uncontrolled flexion of the hand as the flexor muscles become shirt and fibrotic due to ischaemia
Where is the antecubital fossa?
-Depression on anterior surface of elbow joint
