Arm And Cubital Fossa Flashcards
Humeral head articulates with?
The glenoid cavity of the scapula; glenohumeral joint
Intertubercular groove (sulcus)
Separates the greater and lesser tubercles
Anatomical neck of humerus
Lies between the head and the tubercles
Surgical neck of the humerus
- lies at the beginning of the body or shaft, distal to the tubercles
- more likely region of breakage
Deltoid tuberosity
-anterolateral “bump” indicating insertion of deltoid muscle
Radial groove
(Spiral groove)
- posterior aspect
- position of the radial nerve
Trochlea
- Articulates with ulna
- medial to trochlea is a deep groove
- sulcus for ulnar nerve
Capitulum
Articulates with the radius
What are the 3 articulations of the elbow
- humeroulnar
- humeroradial
- proximal radioulnar
What does the brachial vein anastomose with?
Paired vein and superficial veins
Muscular branches to the muscles of the anterior compartment come off which artery?
Brachial artery
Muscular branches to the posterior compartment come off which artery?
Deep brachial artery
What does the deep brachial artery divide into?
Anterior and posterior descending branches surrounding the lateral epicondyle of the humerus
What do the anterior and posterior descending branches anastomose with?
Collaterals from the brachial artery
Profunda brachii artery
- first and largest branch
- this artery branches and follows the radial n. posteriorly around the radial groove to the posterior surface of the humerus
Radial and ulnar arteries are found where?
At the level of the cubital fossa as a result of the brachial artery branching
Radial artery
Has one recurrent branch
Ulnar artery
Has anterior and posterior recurrent branches
The anastomosis around the elbow is formed from?
- anterior and posterior branches of the deep brachial a.
- radial recurrent a.
- superior and inferior ulnar collaterals
- anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries
Superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries arise from?
The brachial artery proximal to its division within the cubital fossa
The muscles of the arm receive innervation from which nerves?
Radial and musculocutaneous nerves
Where do the median and ulnar nerves descend?
Descend along the brachial artery thru the arm to reach the forearm
(Where they innervate muscles and skin)
Where are the median and ulnar nerves formed?
The axilla
The largest branch of the radial n.
- formed from the posterior cords
- curves posteriorly around the humerus in the radial groove (w/ the deep brachial a.)
- innervates the triceps and anconeus
Musculocutaneous nerve
- small branch of the lateral cord
- innervates the muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm
- continues into the forearm as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm
Where do the median and ulnar nerves travel down?
The lateral and medial sides of brachial artery respectively
Where is the median nerve protected?
In the cubital fossa by lying deep to the bicipital tendon
Where does the ulnar nerve begin?
- In the anterior muscular compartment
- then pierces the medial intermuscular septum to continue distally along the medial head of the triceps brachii
Superior border of the cubital fossa
Line crossing from medial to lateral epicondyles of the humerus
Medial boundary of cubital fossa
Pronator teres muscle
Lateral boundary of cubital fossa
Brachioradialis muscle
Boundaries of the cubital fossa
- superior: line crossing from medial to lateral epicondyles of the humerus
- medial: pronator teres muscle
- lateral: brachioradialis muscle
- floor: brachialis and supination muscles
- roof: deep fascia including bicipital aponeurosis
What does the cubital fossa contain?
- bicipital tendon
- brachial artery and its terminal radial and ulnar branches
- brachial veins
- parts of the median and radial nerves
Where does the median cubital vein run?
Runs in the loose connective tissue superficial to the deep fascia covering the cubital fossa
Wrist drop
- long term paralysis or weakness of the extensor muscles of the wrist in the forearm
- results from pressure on the radial nerve
Damage to musculocutaneous nerve in the axilla results in?
Weakened flexion and supination of the forearm
-anesthesia of the lateral forearm is possible
Damage to the median nerve results in?
- loss of sensation to the lateral portion of the palm
- loss of pronation, flexion of the wrist/digits, and complex thumb movements
Damage to the ulnar nerve results in?
- weakened flexion and adduction of the wrist
- innervates fewer flexors in forearm so flexion is less severely affected than with median nerve damage
Hitting your “funny bone” is?
- ulnar nerve
- results in tingling or anesthesia of the medial 2 digits
Damage to brachial/axillary artery results in?
- loss of blood supply to the forearm causes paralysis of deep flexors
- permanent damage may occur causing permanent flexion due to atrophy and shortening of deep flexor muscles
