The cubital fossa is a triangular space located in front of the elbow. Its boundaries are the lateral border of the pronator teres muscle medially, the medial border of the brachioradialis muscle laterally, and an imaginary line joining the two epicondyles of the humerus at its base. Its contents from medial to lateral are the median nerve, brachial artery, bicipital aponeurosis, and radial nerve. The median cubital vein in the cubital fossa is often used for intravenous injections. The brachial artery can also be auscultated in the cubital fossa for blood pressure measurement.

1. Cubital Fossa

2. As per:
Competency based Undergraduate curriculum
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AN11.5: Identify and describe boundaries and contents of cubital fossa.
AN11.3: Describe the anatomical basis of venipuncture of cubital veins.
AN11.6: Describe the anastomosis around the elbow joint.
Medical Council of India, Competency based Undergraduate curriculum for the Indian Medical Graduate,
2018. Vol. 1; pg 1-80.
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3. Cubital Fossa
Q. Describe the cubital fossa under following
heads: boundaries, contents, and applied
aspects.
• Potential, triangular space situated in front of
the elbow
• Homologous with the popliteal fossa of lower
limb. Popliteal fossa is located behind the knee.

4. Boundaries, Roof, and Floor
Boundaries
Medial: Lateral border of pronator
teres
Lateral: Medial border of
brachioradialis
Base: An imaginary line joining two
epicondyles of humerus
Apex: Meeting point of medial and
lateral boundaries 4

5. Boundaries, Roof, and Floor
Roof
1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia
3. Median cubital vein (runs medially upward)
4. Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm
5. Lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm
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6. Boundaries, Roof, and Floor
Floor
1. Brachialis
2. Supinator
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7. Contents of Cubital Fossa
Q. List the contents of cubital
fossa.
• The contents of the cubital
fossa from medial to lateral are
(mnemonic: MBBR)
1. Median nerve
2. Brachial artery
3. Biceps brachii tendon
4. Radial nerve
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8. • Mnemonic: MBBR
• Median nerve
• Termination of Brachial artery and
beginning of radial and ulnar arteries.
• Bicipital aponeurosis
• Radial nerve
Contents of Cubital Fossa (Medial to Lateral)

10. 10
Fig. 14.8: Contents of
cubital fossa (right,
anterior view).
Note: Median nerve
passes between two
heads of
pronator teres, whereas
ulnar artery passes deep
to both
the heads of pronator
teres muscle.

11. CUBITAL FOSSA (CONTENTS)

12. Clinical Integration
Q. Write a short note on median cubital
vein or venipuncture in the cubital fossa.
• Intravenous injections:
Median cubital vein is often used
for intravenous injections as it is
fixed with deep veins through
perforating veins (that passes
through bicipital aponeurosis)
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13. Clinical Integration
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14. Clinical Integration
• Recording of blood pressure:
Brachial artery is auscultated in
the cubital fossa for recording
of blood pressure.
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15. Clinical Integration
• Brachial artery and median nerve are
protected from external injuries by
bicipital aponeurosis
• Biceps jerk: For eliciting biceps jerk,
tendon of biceps is stroked with tendon
hammer in the cubital fossa.
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16. Clinical Integration
• Sides of safety:
In the cubital fossa, the median nerve gives branches on medial
side, whereas the radial nerve on its lateral side.
Hence, during surgeries of the cubital fossa lateral to median
nerve and medial to radial nerve are sides of safety to avoid the
injuries to the branches of these nerves.
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17. Human Anatomy/Yogesh Sontakke 17

18. Thank you………….
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