Historically, when (venous) blood-letting was practiced, the bicipital aponeurosis (the ceiling of the cubital fossa) was known as the “grace of God” tendon because it protected the more important contents of the fossa (i.e., the brachial artery and the median nerve).

elbow

Biceps tendon – perhaps the most prominent structure of the cubital fossa, the biceps tendon runs through attaching to the radial tuberosity of the radius. [3] Brachial artery – the brachial artery runs through the fossa, just medial to the biceps tendon, branching at the apex into the radial and ulnar arteries. [4]

The cubital fossa contains four main vertical structures (from lateral to medial): The radial nerve is in the vicinity of the cubital fossa, located between brachioradialis and brachialis muscles. It is often but not always considered part of the cubital fossa. The biceps brachii tendon.

The opposite side of the elbow is called the antecubital space, the cubital fossa or the chelidon. Some people call it the “elbow pit,” which is intended to echo the word “armpit.”

median cubital vein

There are three veins most commonly used in venipuncture, or phlebotomy. They are the cephalic, median cubital, and basilic veins.

The most site for venipuncture is the antecubital fossa located in the anterior elbow at the fold. This area houses three veins: the cephalic, median cubital, and basilic veins (Figure 1).

Great Saphenous Vein

A procedure in which a needle is used to take blood from a vein, usually for laboratory testing. A blood draw may also be done to remove extra red blood cells from the blood, to treat certain blood disorders. Also called phlebotomy and venipuncture.

Collecting blood samples is a frequently used method to diagnose and monitor diseases, and thanks to blood samples, long and sometimes painful examinations can often be avoided. Blood condition says something about the patient’s overall health condition and reveals more specific diseases and conditions.

Common Blood Draw Injuries

• Nerve damage. If the nurse or other person drawing blood is not careful, they can inadvertently penetrate a nerve when inserting the needle.
• Uncontrolled bleeding. Your blood might be drawn from an area where there is a high risk of nicking an artery.
• Hitting a bone.
• Bruising.

Post-injection nerve damage can result from direct needle trauma, chemical irritation, toxic action of the injected solution, and neuritis (or fibrotic changes). When a nerve injury is caused by a needle, most patients report immediate pain at the time of injection,11 as our patient did.

If needle insertion results in swelling and bruising, you’ve got a blown vein. It may sting and can be uncomfortable, but it’s harmless. The healthcare provider typically applies a little pressure to the injection site to minimize blood loss and swelling. After a few minutes, they clean the area to prevent infection.

It is very rare for a blood test to result in serious complications; however, there is a very small possibility of complications arising.