Anatomical characteristics of cubital fossa and its clinical importance

Aim: Cubital fossa has a large number of studies on the structures that pass over and through it, while a joint study of each structure is quite rare in the literature. The aim of this study is to determine morphometric measurements and frequencies of the normal and variational courses with detailed description of the anatomy of the cubital fossa and to shed light to clinicians in the planning of interventions and diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the region. Methods: The dissection of 30 adult male cadaver upper extremities which fixed with 10% formalin was performed in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University. Arm and forearm lengths, distance between medial epicondyl and lateral epicondylus, bicipital aponeurosis width were measured after dissection. Distance of structures that on the cubital fossa and inside the cubital fossa to the line between the medial epicondyl and lateral epicondyl were measured. Types of superficial vein courses of the upper extremities named as; Type 1- vein N, type 2- vein M and atypical group. The atypical group was examined in 4 sub-headings. The formation, course and branches of median nerve were checked and measurements were made in cases where it gives early branches. The course and branches of brachial artery s were checked, brachial artery branches were measured. Results: During careful and detailed dissection, we found numerous variations of veins, arteries and nerves in the left upper extremity of the cadaver. In our study, the distribution rates of type 1-vein N and type 2-vein M were found to be equal to 39.1% and the atypical group was less and found 16.7%. 1 Struther's ligament was identified. Mergence rate of radix medialis nervi mediani and radix lateralis nervi mediani (branches of median nerve) at the arm region was 6.7%. The branch merger from musculocutaneus nerve to median nerve was found to be 3.3%. It was seen that the course of median nerve in the cubital fossa did not pass between two heads of pronator teres muscle. First median nerve perforates muscle's humeral head towards to forearm and then it passes through under ulnar head that seen as a fibrous band. In 4 cases, it was seen that median nerve gave early branches. The mean value of distance from the straight line between medial epicondyl and lateral epicondyl to the spot that median nerve gave early branches was 25,15 mm. Median nerve did not pass between two heads of pronator teres muscle by 10%. At the same time brachioradial artery was seen at 10% and was found to be separated from the top at an average of 167,17 mm. Conclusion: Considering all these variations and measurements in our study, which shows the structures passing over and through cubital fossa, clinicians should be more careful in the attempts to be made in this region. We think that our study will contribute to the literature and will shed light on clinicians. Key words: violence, woman, Tidal Model, psychiatric nursing