Posterior compartment of leg
The posterior compartment of the leg is one of the fascial compartments of the leg and is divided further into deep and superficial compartments.
| Posterior compartment of leg | |
|---|---|
 Diagram of leg compartments | |
Dissection video of posterior compartment of leg (6 min 39 sec) | |
| Details | |
| Artery | posterior tibial artery |
| Nerve | tibial nerve |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | compartimentum cruris posterius |
| TA98 | A04.7.01.006 |
| TA2 | 2654 |
| FMA | 45167 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
Superficial posterior compartment
| Image | Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Innervation | Main Action ! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Gastrocnemius | Lateral head: lateral aspect of lateral condyle of femur Medial head: popliteal surface of femur; superior to medial condyle | Posterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendon | Tibial nerve (S1, S2) | Plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; raises heel during walking; flexes leg at knee joint |
 |
Plantaris | Inferior end of lateral supracondylar line of femur; oblique popliteal ligament | Weakly assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexing ankle | ||
 |
Soleus | Posterior aspect of head and superior quarter of posterior surface of fibula; soleal line and middle third of medial border of tibia; and tendinous arch extending between the bony attachments | Plantarflexes ankle independent of position of knee; steadies leg on foot |
Deep posterior compartment
| Image | Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Innervation | Main Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flexor hallucis longus muscle | Inferior two-thirds of posterior surface of fibula; inferior part of interosseous membrane | Base of distal phalanx of big toe (hallux) | Tibial nerve (S1, S2) | Flexes big toe at all joints; weakly plantarflexes ankle; supports medial longitudinal arch of foot |
 |
Tibialis posterior muscle | Interosseous membrane; posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line; posterior surface of fibula | Tuberosity of navicular, cuneiform, cuboid, and sustentaculum tali of calcaneus; bases of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals | Tibial nerve (L4, L5) | Plantarflexes ankle; inverts foot |
 |
Flexor digitorum longus muscle | Medial part of posterior surface of tibia; by a broad tendon to fibula | Bases of distal phalanges of lateral four digits | Tibial nerve (S1, S2) | Flexes lateral four digits; plantarflexes ankle; supports longitudinal arches of foot |
 |
Popliteus muscle | Lateral surface of lateral condyle of femur and lateral meniscus | Animation. Posterior surface of tibia, superior to soleal line | Tibial nerve (L4, L5, S1) | Weakly flexes knee and unlocks it by rotating femur 5 deg on fixed tibia; medially rotates tibia of unplanted limb |
Blood supply
Innervation
The posterior compartment of the leg is supplied by the tibial nerve.
Function
- It contains the plantar flexors:[4]
Additional images
Superficial posterior compartment. Animation.
Deep posterior compartment. Animation.
References
- Moore, Dally and Agur (2014). Moore Clinically-Oriented Anatomy, Table 5.13.I, p 597.
- Moore, Dally, and Agur (2014). Moore Clinically-Oriented Anatomy, Table 5.13.II, p 598.
- "Muscle Database - sorted by muscle location". Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- postleg at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Posterior compartment of the human leg.
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