[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Upper limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/upper-limb/) › Cubital fossa [Muscular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/muscular-system/) · [Upper limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/upper-limb/) # Cubital fossa The cubital fossa is the hollow at the front of the elbow; the main artery and a major nerve of the arm pass through it, under the veins used for blood draws. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=upper_limb&select=cubital_fossa&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is A triangle at the front of the elbow: above, a line between the epicondyles; outside, brachioradialis; inside, pronator teres. Brachialis and supinator form the floor; the bicipital aponeurosis and skin with the median cubital vein form the roof. ## What it does Lets the main structures pass the elbow. From inside to outside: median nerve, brachial artery, biceps tendon, and the radial nerve just under the edge of brachioradialis. The brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries here. ## Key points - The brachial artery usually divides here, at about the level of the radial neck, into the radial artery and the ulnar artery; the median nerve leaves between the two heads of the pronator teres - Venepuncture: the median cubital vein lies on the bicipital aponeurosis, which separates it from the brachial artery and the median nerve - Extension-type supracondylar fracture in children: the proximal fragment is driven forward into the fossa, threatening the brachial artery and the median nerve (especially its anterior interosseous branch) - Blood pressure is taken with the stethoscope over the brachial artery just medial to the [distal biceps tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/distal-biceps-tendon/) ## Key facts **Where** Front of the elbow; base: line between the epicondyles; lateral: brachioradialis; medial: pronator teres **Attaches** Floor: brachialis and supinator; roof: deep fascia, bicipital aponeurosis, median cubital vein in the superficial fascia **Function** Contents medial to lateral: median nerve, brachial artery (divides into radial and ulnar arteries), biceps tendon, radial nerve (under brachioradialis) ## Relations **Superficial** [Skin](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/skin/) of the elbow crease and superficial fascia with the [median cubital vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-cubital-vein/) (or an M of median cephalic and median basilic veins) and branches of the forearm skin nerves; then the bicipital aponeurosis **Deep** Floor of [brachialis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachialis/) above and [supinator](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/supinator/) below, lying on the [elbow capsule](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/elbow-joint-capsule/); the brachialis keeps the vessels off the joint **Medial** Medial bicipital groove, between the biceps tendon and the [pronator teres](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pronator-teres/): deep, the [brachial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-artery/) with its veins and the [median nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-nerve/); superficial, the median [basilic vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/basilic-vein/) and the [medial forearm skin nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/medial-antebrachial-cutaneous-nerve/) **Lateral** Lateral bicipital groove, between the biceps tendon and the [brachioradialis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachioradialis/): deep, the [radial nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radial-nerve/) dividing into its two branches, with the radial collateral and radial recurrent arteries; superficial, the median [cephalic vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/cephalic-vein/) and the [lateral forearm skin nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-antebrachial-cutaneous-nerve/) **Below** Apex where brachioradialis meets pronator teres: the [radial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radial-artery/) continues under brachioradialis, the [ulnar artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ulnar-artery/) passes deep to the ulnar head of pronator teres ## How to find it With the elbow straight and the forearm supinated, the distal biceps tendon is felt as a firm cord in the middle of the crease, sharper on resisted flexion. The brachial pulse lies just medial to it and the median nerve about a finger-width further medial. The crease sits a little below the line joining the epicondyles. ## On imaging Ultrasound across the crease shows, from lateral to medial, the biceps tendon, the brachial artery with its paired veins and the median nerve lying on brachialis; it guides difficult venous access and median nerve blocks. In children, a raised anterior fat pad on a lateral elbow X-ray suggests a supracondylar fracture. ## Common problems - Blood draws and IV lines go into the median cubital vein in its roof; the bicipital aponeurosis shields the artery and nerve below. - The blood pressure cuff's stethoscope goes over the brachial artery here. - A displaced supracondylar fracture in a child can injure the brachial artery or the median nerve. ## Clinical notes - A needle pushed too deep or too medial during a blood draw can reach the brachial artery or the median nerve - A superficial artery from a high division of the brachial artery can run over the bicipital aponeurosis and be entered by mistake; injecting irritant drugs into it can cause severe hand ischaemia - Median nerve block at the elbow: the nerve is found just medial to the brachial artery at the level of the intercondylar line - Swelling or a tight cast after a supracondylar fracture can compress the brachial artery here, leading to forearm compartment syndrome and Volkmann ischaemic contracture ## Anatomical variants - Superficial venous pattern varies: a single oblique median cubital vein, or an M formed by median cephalic and median basilic veins (the classic textbook pattern) - High division of the brachial artery: the radial or ulnar artery can arise in the arm and cross the fossa superficially ## Memory aid TAN from lateral to medial: Tendon (biceps), Artery (brachial), Nerve (median); the radial nerve hides further lateral under the brachioradialis. ## Related conditions - [Supracondylar humerus fracture](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/supracondylar-humerus-fracture/) - [Biceps tendon rupture](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/biceps-tendon-rupture/) ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What forms the floor of the cubital fossa? The brachialis above and the supinator below, lying on the elbow capsule. ## Which structure separates the median cubital vein from the brachial artery? The bicipital aponeurosis, which also covers the median nerve. ## How does the median nerve leave the cubital fossa? Between the humeral and ulnar heads of the pronator teres. ## Which artery and nerve are at risk in an extension-type supracondylar fracture? The brachial artery and the median nerve, especially its anterior interosseous branch, pushed by the proximal fragment. ## What runs deep in the lateral bicipital groove? The radial nerve, dividing into superficial and deep branches, with the radial collateral–radial recurrent anastomosis. [Add to my cards (5)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/cubital-fossa/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** fossa cubitalis TA2 291 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Fosa cubital **English (TA2)** Cubital fossa **Also called** antecubital fossa · elbow pit ## Related - [Median nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-nerve/) - [Brachial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-artery/) - [Distal biceps tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/distal-biceps-tendon/) - [Radial nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radial-nerve/) - [Median cubital vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-cubital-vein/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 56: Articulación del codo. Músculos del brazo; Anatomía humana (4.ª ed.), tomo 1, cap. 57: Antebrazo. Aparato de la pronosupinación. ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/cubital-fossa/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/cubital-fossa/