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Key Areas of the Upper Limb Quiz
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Which of the deep contents of the cubital fossa lies most medially?
- A Median nerve You picked ✓
- B Radial nerve You picked ✕
- C Biceps tendon You picked ✕
- D Brachial artery You picked ✕
- E Median cubital vein You picked ✕
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is A: Median nerve
Explanation
Why A is correct
See Cubital Fossa. Option A is correct. The cubital fossa is a triangular hollow on the front of the elbow. It is bounded laterally by brachioradialis and medially by pronator teres (two forearm muscles), with a horizontal line between the two bony bumps (epicondyles) of the humerus as its upper edge. Its deep contents, listed from lateral (the thumb side) to medial (the little-finger side), are the radial nerve, the biceps tendon, the brachial artery and the median nerve. The median nerve leaves the fossa by passing between the two heads of pronator teres to reach the front of the forearm. The order matters in practice: the brachial pulse is felt just medial to the biceps tendon, which is where you place the stethoscope when measuring blood pressure, and the median nerve lies a little further medial again. In a supracondylar fracture (a break of the humerus just above the elbow, usually after a fall onto an outstretched hand), the artery and nerves in the fossa can be injured directly or compressed by swelling. A well-known mnemonic gives the order: Really Need Beer To Be At My Nicest, for Radial nerve, Biceps Tendon, Brachial Artery and Median nerve.
- Order: From lateral to medial the deep contents are the radial nerve, the biceps tendon, the brachial artery and the median nerve.
- Median nerve: It is the most medial deep content and leaves the fossa between the two heads of pronator teres.
- Brachial pulse: It is felt just medial to the biceps tendon, with the median nerve a little further medial.
- Order: From lateral to medial the deep contents are the radial nerve, the biceps tendon, the brachial artery and the median nerve.
- Median nerve: It is the most medial deep content and leaves the fossa between the two heads of pronator teres.
- Brachial pulse: It is felt just medial to the biceps tendon, with the median nerve a little further medial.
- Order: From lateral to medial the deep contents are the radial nerve, the biceps tendon, the brachial artery and the median nerve.
- Median nerve: It is the most medial deep content and leaves the fossa between the two heads of pronator teres.
- Brachial pulse: It is felt just medial to the biceps tendon, with the median nerve a little further medial.
Why the other options are incorrect
- B. Radial nerve: The radial nerve runs along the lateral (thumb-side) border of the fossa, so it is the most lateral deep content, the opposite of what is asked. It divides into superficial and deep branches near this level. Your answer
- C. Biceps tendon: The biceps tendon passes through the middle of the fossa and attaches to the radial tuberosity, a bump on the radius just below its neck. It lies medial to the radial nerve but lateral to the brachial artery, so it is second from the lateral side. Your answer
- D. Brachial artery: The brachial artery lies just medial to the biceps tendon, which is why its pulse is felt there when taking a blood pressure. It still lies lateral to the median nerve, so it is only third from the lateral side. Your answer
- E. Median cubital vein: The median cubital vein runs in the roof of the fossa, in the fat layer under the skin, and is a common site for taking blood. It is a superficial structure, not one of the deep contents arranged from lateral to medial. Your answer
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1
Which of the following structures does NOT pass through the carpal tunnel?
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2
A 24-year-old cyclist develops numbness and weakness in the hand after prolonged pressure from the handlebars. Examination suggests compression of the ulnar nerve within Guyon's canal. Which structure forms the lateral border of Guyon's canal?
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