Gross Anatomy - Cubital Fossa, Wrist and Hand Exam With
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What are the boundaries of the cubital fossa? - Superior: line joining lat. & med.
epicondyles
Lateral: brachioradialis m.
Medial pronator teres m.
Roof: deep & superficial fascia (bicipital aponeurosis)
Floor: brachialis m. (medially) and supinator m. (laterally)
What are the contents of the cubital fossa? - Radial n.
Lateral antebrachial cutaneous n.
Tendon of biceps brachii m.
Brachial a.
Median n.
Medial antebrachial cutaneous n.
Median cubital v.
Where does the radial n. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters between brachialis
and brachioradialis mm.
Splits and exits as superficial and deep radial nn.
How does the brachial a. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters medial to tendon of
biceps brachii m.
Splits into:
-Radial a: parallels brachioradialis m.
-Ulnar a: passes deep to pronator teres
How does the median n. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters with brachial a.
medial to biceps brachii m. tendon
Exits by passing between heads of pronator teres m.
Where does the median cubital v. lie in the cubital fossa? - In the roof (common site for
venipuncture)
What does the median cubital v. connect to? - Connects basilic and cephalic vv. (also
median antebrachial v., but we don't need to know that)
What is collateral circulation? - Basically anastomosis - mechanism for blood to flow to
organ after normal course has been blocked
What are the branches of the brachial a.? - Deep brachial a.
-middle collateral and radial collateral
Superior ulnar collateral a.
Inferior ulnar collateral
, Radial recurrent (from radial col.)
Interosseous recurrent (from middle col.)
Ant. ulnar recurrent (from inf. ulnar col.)
Post. ulnar recurrent (from sup. ulnar col.)
What are the landmarks on the palmar surface? - Thenar eminence
Hypothenar eminence
Flexion creases
What is the thenar eminence? - Muscular pad on palmar surface of 1st metacarpal
What is the hypothenar eminence? - Muscular pad that forms ulnar border on palmar
surface
What are flexion creases? - Wrinkles on the palmar surface
What is on the dorsal surface of the hand? - Extensor tendons, venous network, and
metacarpals
What is the anatomic snuff box? - Triangular deepening on the radial, dorsal aspect of
the hand—at the level of the carpal bones.
Borders:
Ant.: tendons of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis mm.
Post.: tendon of extensor pollicis longus m.
Floor: scaphoid and trapezium carpal bones
What is the clinical significance of the anatomic snuff box? - Acute tenderness in snuff
box in case of scaphoid fracture
What is the most common carpal bone fracture and MOI? - Scaphoid, fall on
outstretched hand
What is one of the most common bone fractures (occurs in arm)? - Distal radius (AKA
Colle's fracture) identified by distinctive fork shape, fall on outstretched hand
What are the functions of the flexor retinaculum? - Closes the carpal groove and creates
carpal tunnel
Holds flexor tendons in place (prevents bowing)
Origin of thenar and hypothenar mm.
What are the attachments of the flexor retinaculum? - Lateral: tubercle of scaphoid and
trapezium
Medial: pisiform and hook of hamate
What structures pass over the flexor retinaculum? - Flexor carpi ulnaris m.
Ulnar n.
complete solution–Expert Verified | Latest Questions 2025
What are the boundaries of the cubital fossa? - Superior: line joining lat. & med.
epicondyles
Lateral: brachioradialis m.
Medial pronator teres m.
Roof: deep & superficial fascia (bicipital aponeurosis)
Floor: brachialis m. (medially) and supinator m. (laterally)
What are the contents of the cubital fossa? - Radial n.
Lateral antebrachial cutaneous n.
Tendon of biceps brachii m.
Brachial a.
Median n.
Medial antebrachial cutaneous n.
Median cubital v.
Where does the radial n. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters between brachialis
and brachioradialis mm.
Splits and exits as superficial and deep radial nn.
How does the brachial a. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters medial to tendon of
biceps brachii m.
Splits into:
-Radial a: parallels brachioradialis m.
-Ulnar a: passes deep to pronator teres
How does the median n. enter and exit the cubital fossa? - Enters with brachial a.
medial to biceps brachii m. tendon
Exits by passing between heads of pronator teres m.
Where does the median cubital v. lie in the cubital fossa? - In the roof (common site for
venipuncture)
What does the median cubital v. connect to? - Connects basilic and cephalic vv. (also
median antebrachial v., but we don't need to know that)
What is collateral circulation? - Basically anastomosis - mechanism for blood to flow to
organ after normal course has been blocked
What are the branches of the brachial a.? - Deep brachial a.
-middle collateral and radial collateral
Superior ulnar collateral a.
Inferior ulnar collateral
, Radial recurrent (from radial col.)
Interosseous recurrent (from middle col.)
Ant. ulnar recurrent (from inf. ulnar col.)
Post. ulnar recurrent (from sup. ulnar col.)
What are the landmarks on the palmar surface? - Thenar eminence
Hypothenar eminence
Flexion creases
What is the thenar eminence? - Muscular pad on palmar surface of 1st metacarpal
What is the hypothenar eminence? - Muscular pad that forms ulnar border on palmar
surface
What are flexion creases? - Wrinkles on the palmar surface
What is on the dorsal surface of the hand? - Extensor tendons, venous network, and
metacarpals
What is the anatomic snuff box? - Triangular deepening on the radial, dorsal aspect of
the hand—at the level of the carpal bones.
Borders:
Ant.: tendons of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis mm.
Post.: tendon of extensor pollicis longus m.
Floor: scaphoid and trapezium carpal bones
What is the clinical significance of the anatomic snuff box? - Acute tenderness in snuff
box in case of scaphoid fracture
What is the most common carpal bone fracture and MOI? - Scaphoid, fall on
outstretched hand
What is one of the most common bone fractures (occurs in arm)? - Distal radius (AKA
Colle's fracture) identified by distinctive fork shape, fall on outstretched hand
What are the functions of the flexor retinaculum? - Closes the carpal groove and creates
carpal tunnel
Holds flexor tendons in place (prevents bowing)
Origin of thenar and hypothenar mm.
What are the attachments of the flexor retinaculum? - Lateral: tubercle of scaphoid and
trapezium
Medial: pisiform and hook of hamate
What structures pass over the flexor retinaculum? - Flexor carpi ulnaris m.
Ulnar n.
