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

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

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

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

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)
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