The cubital tunnel is a space of the dorsal medial elbow which allows passage of the ulnar nerve around the elbow. It is bordered medially by the medial epicondyle of the humerus, laterally by the olecranon process of the ulna and the tendinous arch joining the humeral and ulnar heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris. The roof of the cubital tunnel is elastic and formed by a myofascial trilaminar retinaculum (also known as the epicondyloolecranon ligament or Osborne band). In 14% of individuals, the roof of this tunnel is covered by epitrochleoanconeus muscle, a variant muscle.

Chronic compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel is known as cubital tunnel syndrome, a form of repetitive strain injury akin to carpal tunnel syndrome (although the role of repetitive stress in causing carpal tunnel syndrome is controversial).

Cubital tunnel

See also

Ulnar nerve entrapment

Froment's sign

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

References

External links

Image at University of Florida

Upper limb anatomy

Cubital tunnel