Other structures and spaces of the upper limb

Question 1

What are the boundaries of the cubital fossa?

Answer 1

Brachioradialis muscle (lateral)
Pronator teres muscle (medial)
Line between humeral epicondyles (superior)

Question 2

What are the boundaries of the axilla?

Answer 2

Base: skin, subcutaneous tissue + fascia extending from the arm to the chest.
Apex: between 1st rib, clavicle + superior border of subscapularis muscle.
Anterior wall: pectoralis major + pectoralis minor.
Posterior wall: scapula + subscapularis (sup.) + teres major + latissimus dorsi (inf.).
Medial wall: chest wall (1st to 4th ribs)+ serratus anterior.
Lateral wall: intertubercular groove of the humerus.

Question 3

Identify the anatomical snuff box and demonstrate palpation of the scaphoid.

Answer 3

Boundaries: tendons of abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis anteriorly + extensor pollicis longus posteriorly.
Contents: scaphoid (floor) + radial artery.
Seen with full extension of the thumb.

Question 4

What forms the roof of the carpal tunnel? What nerve runs through here?

Answer 4

Flexor retinaculum. (proximal extent formed by distal wrist crease)
Median nerve