Human Anatomy Vol 1

ARM

Basilic vein

Medial cutaneous nerye of forearm

Cephalic vein

Lateral cutaneous

nerve of forearm

Median cubital vein

Bicipital aponeurosis

Fig. 8.15: Structures in the roof of the right cubital fossa

separated from the median nerve by the deep head

of the pronator teres (Fig. 8.19).

Ulnar artery gives off the anterior ulnar recurrent,

the posterior ulnar recurrent, and the common

interosseous branches.

The common interosseous branch divides into the

anterior.and posterior interosseous arteries, and

latter gives off the interosseous recurrent branch.

The tendon of the biceps brachii, witL. the bicipital

aponeurosis (Fig. 8.18).

The radial neroe (accompanied by the radial collateral

artery) appears in the gap between the brachialis

(medially) and thebrachioradialis and extensor carpi

radialis longus laterally (Fig. 8.17). \Mhile running in

the intermuscular Bap, radial nerve supplies the three

flanking muscles, and just below the level of the

lateral epicondyle it gives off the posterior

interosseous nerve or deep branch of the radial nerve

which leaves the fossa by piercing the supinator

muscle (Fig. 8.17). The remaining superficial branch

runs in the front of forearm for some distance.

b. The blood pressure is universally recorded by

auscultating the brachial artery in front of the

elbow (Fi9.8.11).

o The anatomy of the cubital fossa is useful while

dealing with the fracture around the elbow, like

the supracondylar fracture of the humerus.

DISSECIION

Reflect the skin of back of arm to view the triceps brachii

muscle. Define its attachments and separate the long

head of the muscle from its lateral head.

Radial nerve will be seen passing between the long

head of triceps and medial border of the humerus. Note

the continuity of radial nerve up to axilla. Carefully cut

through the lateral head of triceps to expose radial nerve

along with profunda brachiivessels. Note that the radial

nerve lies in the radial groove, on the back of humerus,

while passing between the lateral head of triceps above

and its medial head below. ln the lower part of arm, the

radial nerve lies on the front of elbow just lateral to the

brachialis, dividing into two terminal branches in the

cubital fossa.

Supinator Brachialis

(b)

Figs 8.16a and b: The floor of the cubital fossa is formed by

the brachialis and supinator muscles: (a) Surface view, and (b)

cross-sectional view

. The cubital region is important for the following

reasons.

a. The median cubital vein is often the vein of

choice for intravenous injection s (see Fig. 7 .B).

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