Cubital Fossa Flashcards
What is the cubital fossa?
An area of transition between the anatomical arm and forearm
What is the cubital fossa located as?
A depression on the anterior surface of the elbow joint
What shape is the cubital fossa?
Triangular
What are the borders of the cubital fossa?
Lateral
Medial
Superior
What makes up the lateral border of the cubital fossa?
The medial border of the brachioradialis muscle
What makes up the medial border of the cubital fossa?
The lateral border of the pronator teres
What makes up the superior border of the cubital fossa?
An imaginary line between the epicondyles of the humerus
What is the floor of the cubital fossa formed by?
Proximally by brachialis
Distally by the supinator muscle
What does the roof of the cubital fossa consist of/
Skin and fascia, which is reinforced by the bicipital aponeurosis
What runs within the roof of the cubital fossa?
The median cubital vein
What are the important contents of the cubital fossa?
Radial nerve
Biceps tendon
Brachial artery
Median nerve
Is the radial nerve always strictly considered as part of the cubital fossa?
No
Where does the radial nerve pass?
In the vicinity of the cubital fossa, passing underneath the brachioradialis muscle
What happens as the radial nerve passes under the brachioradialis muscle?
It divides into its deep and superficial branches
What happens to the biceps tendon as it runs through the cubital fossa?
It attaches to the radial tuberosity, just distal to the neck of the radius
What does the brachial artery do?
Supplies oxygenated blood to the forearm
What happens to the brachial artery in the cubital fossa?
It bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries at the apex of the cubital fossa
Where does the median nerve leave the cubital fossa?
Between the two heads of the pronator teres
What does the median nerve do?
Supplies the majority of flexor muscles in the forearm
How can the brachial pulse be felt?
By palpating immediately medial to the biceps tendon in the cubital fossa
How is the brachial pulse used in measuring blood pressure?
It is the location in which the stethoscope must be placed, to hear the Korotkoff sounds
Where is the median cubital vein located?
Superficially within the roof of the cubital fossa
What does the median cubital vein do?
Connects the basilic and cephalic veins
What is the median cubital vein a common site for?
Venepuncture
Why is the median cubital vein a common site for venepuncture?
Because it’s easily accessible
How does a supracondylar fracture usually occur?
By falling on a flexed elbow
What kind of fracture is a supracondylar?
Transverse, spanning between the two epicondyle
What may happen with a supracondylar fracture?
The displaced fracture fragments may impinge and damage the contents of the cubital fossa May be damage to median or radial nerves
How can supracondylar fractures lead to Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture?
Direct damage, or post-fracture swelling, can cause interference to the blood supply of the forearm from the brachial artery, and the resulting ischaemia causes the flexor muscles to become fibrotic and short, resulting in uncontrolled flexion of the hand
