CUBITAL FOSSA

The cubital fossa is an area of transition between the anatomical arm and the forearm. It
is located as a depression on the anterior surface of the elbow joint. It is homologous/similar to
the popliteal fossa of the lower limb.

The cubital fossa is triangular in shape, and thus has three borders:

Borders of the cubital fossa :

• Lateral border – medial border of the brachioradialis muscle.

• Medial border – lateral border of the pronator teres muscle.
• Superior border – Imaginary line between the epicondyles of the humerus. ( Diagram at last page)

The floor of the fossa is formed by the brachialis muscle proximally, and the supinator
muscle distally — the roof (from superficial to deep) forms from the skin, fascia, and the bicipital
aponeurosis. In the roof of the fossa the median cubital vein, which can be accessed for
venepuncture.

Contents Of the Cubital Fossa :

The contents of the cubital fossa include vessels, nerves and the biceps tendon (lateral to medial):

• Radial nerve – this is not always strictly considered part of the cubital fossa, but is in the vicinity,
passing underneath the brachioradialis muscle. As it does so, the radial nerve divides into its deep
and superficial branches.

• Biceps tendon – runs through the cubital fossa, attaching to the radial tuberosity, just distal to the
neck of the radius.

• Brachial artery – supplies oxygenated blood to the forearm. It bifurcates into the radial and ulnar
arteries at the apex of the cubital fossa.

• Median nerve – leaves the cubital between the two heads of the pronator teres. It supplies the
majority of the flexor muscles in the forearm.

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Radial Nerve Biceps Tendon Brachial Artery Median Nerve

Dept of Physiotherapy, AWU

Rowriah,Jorhat Page 1
Blood Supply :

As stated above, the brachial artery passes through the cubital fossa, bifurcating into the
radial and ulnar arteries at the distal apex of the fossa. These arteries then continue down into the
forearm to supply the anterior and posterior aspects of the lower arm, ending with the deep and
superficial arches of the hand.
The two primary superficial veins of the arm have an essential communication in the roof
of the cubital fossa - the median cubital vein.

Muscles in the cubital fossa

1.Pronator teres forms the medial border of the fossa.
2.Brachioradialis forms the lateral border of the cubital fossa..
3.Brachialis forms the proximal aspect of the floor.
4. Supinator forms the distal aspect of the floor.

Dept of Physiotherapy, AWU

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