The Anatomical Snuffbox - Borders - Contents - TeachMeAnatomy

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The anatomical snuffbox (also known as the radial fossa), is a triangular depression found on the lateral aspect of the dorsum of the hand. It is located at the level of the carpal bones, and best seen when the thumb is extended.

In the past, this depression was used to hold snuff (ground tobacco) before inhaling via the nose – hence it was given the name ‘snuffbox’.

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the anatomical snuffbox – its borders, contents, and any clinical correlations.

By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2026) Anatomical snuffbox of the left hand, highlighted on the dorsum with lateral positioning.

Fig 1The left anatomical snuffbox. Note its lateral position on the dorsum of the hand

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