Variations in the cubital fossa

Sharmistha BISWAS, Anjan ADHIK

Abstract

The median nerve crosses in front of the brachial artery at the middle of the arm from lateral to medial side, and passes along its medial side. They appear in cubital fossa beneath bicipital aponeurosis and rest on brachialis muscle. In cubital fossa, structures lying from lateral to medial are tendon of biceps brachii, brachial artery and median nerve (TAN). No literature is available stating median nerve to be lateral to the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. In the present case, we found bilateral variations in the course of median nerve and brachial artery in the cubital fossa. The nerve was lateral to the artery. Both the structures passed deep to an accessory slip of brachialis muscle in the lower arm. It is a rare variation. Compression neuropathy of median nerve, vascular compression and injury to the median nerve during brachial catheterization can occur in such a case.