Bicipital aponeurosis
Superficial muscles of the chest and front of the arm. (Lacertus fibrosus visible as white band at lower right.)
Latin	aponeurosis musculi bicipitis brachii
Gray's	subject #124 444

The bicipital aponeurosis (also known as lacertus fibrosus) is a broad aponeurosis of the biceps brachii which is located in the cubital fossa of the elbow and separates superficial from deep structures in much of the fossa.

The bicipital aponeurosis originates from the distal insertion of the biceps brachii. While the tendon of the biceps inserts on the radial tuberosity, the aponeurosis reinforces the cubital fossa, and helps to protect the brachial artery and the median nerve running underneath. This protection is important during venipuncture (taking blood) from the median cubital vein.

Some individuals (about 3% of the population) have a superficial ulnar artery that runs superficially to the bicipital aponeurosis instead of underneath it. These individuals are at risk for accidental injury to the ulnar artery during venipuncture. ^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Diagram at radsource.edu (seventh diagram from top)
• SUNY Labs 07:01-0201 - "Flexor Region of the Forearm: Muscles that Border the Cubital Fossa"

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e List of muscles of upper limbs (TA A04.6, GA 4.432) Shoulder deltoid · rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) · teres major fascia: Deltoid fascia · Supraspinous fascia · Infraspinous fascia Arm (compartments) Anterior coracobrachialis · biceps brachii · brachialis Posterior triceps brachii · anconeus · Articularis cubiti Fascia Axillary sheath · Axillary fascia · Brachial fascia · intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial) Other spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) Forearm Anterior superficial: pronator teres · palmaris longus · flexor carpi radialis · flexor carpi ulnaris · flexor digitorum superficialis deep: pronator quadratus · flexor digitorum profundus · flexor pollicis longus Posterior superficial: mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) · extensor digitorum · extensor digiti minimi · extensor carpi ulnaris deep: supinator · anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) · extensor indicis Fascia Bicipital aponeurosis · common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) · Antebrachial fascia Other Cubital tunnel Hand Lateral volar thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis) · adductor pollicis Medial volar hypothenar (opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor minimi digiti) · palmaris brevis Intermediate lumbrical · interossei (dorsal, palmar) Fascia posterior: Extensor retinaculum · Extensor expansion anterior: Flexor retinaculum · Palmar aponeurosis