Posterior compartment of leg

Posterior compartment of leg
Details
Artery	posterior tibial artery
Nerve	tibial nerve
Identifiers
Latin	compartimentum cruris posterius
TA	A04.7.01.006
FMA	45167
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The posterior compartment of the leg is one of the fascial compartments of the leg and is divided further into deep and superficial compartments.

Structure

Muscles

Deep posterior compartment

• flexor hallucis longus
• flexor digitorum longus
• tibialis posterior
• popliteus

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Main Action
Flexor hallucis longus	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
Flexor digitorum longus	Medial part of posterior surface of tibia; by a broad tendon to fibula	Bases of distal phalanges of lateral four digits		Flexes lateral four digits; plantarflexes ankle; supports longitudinal arches of foot
Tibialis posterior	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
Popliteus	Lateral surface of lateral condyle of femur and lateral meniscus	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

^{[1] [2]}

Superficial posterior compartment

• gastrocnemius
• soleus
• plantaris

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
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
Plantaris	Inferior end of lateral supracondylar line of femur; oblique popliteal ligament			Weakly assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexing ankle

^[3]

Blood supply

Posterior tibial artery

Innervation

The posterior compartment of the leg is supplied by the tibial nerve.

Function

• It contains the plantar flexors:^[4]

References

1. Moore, Dally, and Agur (2014). Moore Clinically-Oriented Anatomy, Table 5.13.II, p 598.
2. https://www.msu.edu/user/vosskurt/Miscellaneous%20pages/musloc.htm
3. Moore, Dally and Agur (2014). Moore Clinically-Oriented Anatomy, Table 5.13.I, p 597.
4. postleg at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

External links

• Diagram at patientcareonline.com