A good note on the radial fossa Good for anatomy students and other users may know more about it

1. ANATOMICAL SNUFF BOX
ANATOMY DEPARTMENT
EKO UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES.
IJANIKIN

2. ANATOMICAL SNUFF
BOX
INTRODUCTION
BORDERS
CONTENT OF THE SNUFF
BOX
CLINICAL CORRELATES

3. INTRODUCTION
• The anatomical snuffbox is also known as the radial
fossa.
• It is a triangular depression found on the lateral side
of the wrist.
• It is located at the level of the carpal bones, and best
seen when the thumb is extended.
• In the past, this depression was used to hold snuff
(ground tobacco) before inhaling via the nose – hence
it was given the name ‘snuffbox’.

4. BOUNDARIES OF THE ANATOMICAL SNUFF
BOX
• As the snuffbox is triangularly shaped, it has three borders, a floor,
and a roof:
• Ulnar (medial) border: Tendon of the extensor pollicis longus.
• Radial (lateral) border: Tendons of the extensor pollicis brevis and
abductor pollicis longus.
• Proximal border: Styloid process of the radius.
• Floor: Carpal bones; scaphoid and trapezoid.
• Roof: Skin.

5. BOUNDARIES OF THE ANATOMICAL SNUFF
BOX

6. CONTENTS OF THE ANATOMICAL SNUFF BOX
• The main contents of the anatomical snuffbox are:
I. the radial artery,
II. a branch of the radial nerve,
III. the cephalic vein
• Radial artery – crosses the floor of the anatomical snuff box
• Superficial branch of the radial nerve – found in the skin and
subcutaneous tissue of the anatomical snuffbox
• Cephalic vein – arises from the dorsal venous network of the hand
and crosses the anatomical snuffbox to travel up the anterolateral
aspect of the forearm.

7. CLINICAL CORRELATES
• Fractures of the Scaphoid In the anatomical snuffbox:
• the scaphoid and the radius articulate to form part of the wrist joint. In the
event of a blow to the wrist (e.g falling on an outstretched hand), the
scaphoid takes most of the force.
• If localized pain is reported in the anatomical snuffbox, a fracture of the
scaphoid is the most likely cause.
• A fracture of the scaphoid can disrupt the blood supply to
the proximal portion. The scaphoid has a unique blood supply, which
runs distal to proximal.
• Failure to revascularise the scaphoid can lead to avascular necrosis, and
future arthritis for the patient.