Dominic Stone
Muscle compartments refer to the discrete regions of the body that contain a group of muscles. The limbs are divided into segments, and when cut transversely, it is apparent that they are divided into multiple sections. These sections are called fascial compartments and are formed by tough connective tissue septa. The compartments usually have separate nerve and blood supplies from their neighbours, and all the muscles within a compartment are generally supplied by the same nerve. The upper limb, for example, is divided into three regions: the hand, the arm, and the forearm. The two proximal regions are further anatomically divided into two compartments, namely anterior and posterior. The lower leg, on the other hand, contains four muscle compartments: the anterior compartment, lateral compartment, posterior deep leg compartment, and posterior superficial compartment.
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What You'll Learn
- Muscle compartments are well-defined regions that contain a group of muscles within a body segment
- The upper limb is divided into three regions: the hand, the arm, and the forearm
- The anterior compartment, also known as the extensor compartment, contains muscles that dorsiflex or extend the foot
- The posterior compartment is a major contributor to mobility, specifically in walking and running
- Compartments usually have separate nerve and blood supplies from their neighbours
Muscle compartments are well-defined regions that contain a group of muscles within a body segment
The upper limb, for example, is divided into three regions: the hand, the arm, and the forearm. The arm, in particular, has two compartments: the anterior and posterior. The anterior compartment of the arm contains the long and short heads of the biceps brachii, brachialis, and coracobrachialis muscles, which are innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve and supplied by the brachial artery. On the other hand, the posterior compartment is home to the long, short, and medial heads of the triceps brachii muscle and anconeus.
The leg is typically divided into three or four muscle compartments. The anterior compartment, also known as the extensor compartment, contains muscles that dorsiflex or extend the foot at the ankle joint and muscles that flex the toes. The lateral compartment, on the other hand, contains muscles that are primarily involved with eversion of the foot, tilting the sole of the foot laterally. These muscles are the fibularis longus and brevis, innervated by the superficial fibular nerve. The posterior compartment is further divided into deep and superficial groups. The superficial group is composed of muscles that are essential for plantar flexion, allowing us to stand on our tiptoes. These muscles are the soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris.
The thigh, another segment of the body, is usually divided into three compartments: the anterior, posterior, or hamstring, and medial compartments. Each compartment is supplied by a specific nerve.
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The upper limb is divided into three regions: the hand, the arm, and the forearm
The human body is an intricate structure, and the upper limb is no exception. The upper limb, which consists of the hand, the arm, and the forearm, showcases a remarkable complexity in its form and function.
The hand, the most distal region of the upper limb, showcases an impressive level of dexterity and functionality. It comprises eight carpal bones that form the base, five metacarpal bones that shape the palm, and fourteen phalanx bones that make up the fingers and thumb. This intricate arrangement allows for a wide range of movements, making the hand a versatile tool for various tasks.
Moving proximally, we find the forearm, situated between the elbow and wrist joints. The forearm is composed of two bones, the radius, and the ulna, which articulate with the humerus to form the elbow joint. The radius and ulnar veins unite to form the basilic vein, which travels along the medial side of the arm. The forearm also houses muscles such as the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor digitorum profundus, which are innervated by the ulnar nerve.
The arm, located between the shoulder and elbow joints, contains the single bone of the upper limb, the humerus. The humerus articulates with the scapula to form the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint, allowing for a wide range of motions. The arm also showcases muscle groups such as the triceps brachii, which extends the elbow, and the supinator and pronator muscles, which facilitate movements like supination and pronation of the hand.
The upper limb is a marvel of anatomy, with each region contributing to its overall functionality. The hand, with its intricate bone structure, enables precise movements, while the forearm and arm provide the necessary support, stability, and range of motion to perform various tasks. Understanding the compartments and regions of the upper limb is crucial for diagnosing and treating injuries, ensuring optimal function, and appreciating the complexity of human anatomy.
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The anterior compartment, also known as the extensor compartment, contains muscles that dorsiflex or extend the foot
A muscle compartment is defined as an enclosed space formed by fascia or by a combination of fascia and bone that contains one or more muscles. The limbs can be divided into segments, and when these segments are cut transversely, it is apparent that they are divided into multiple sections. These sections are called fascial compartments and are formed by tough connective tissue septa.
The leg is divided into three or four muscle compartments. The anterior compartment, also known as the extensor compartment, is one of the smaller muscle groups in the leg. It contains muscles that dorsiflex or extend the foot at the ankle joint, and muscles that flex the toes. These muscles include the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and fibularis tertius. The extensor digitorum longus lies laterally and deep to the tibialis anterior. Its four tendons can be palpated on the dorsal surface of the foot. The extensor hallucis longus dorsiflexes the foot and extends the big toe, while the extensor digitorum longus dorsiflexes the foot and extends the four lateral toes. The peroneus tertius dorsiflexes and everts the foot. The anterior tibial artery and vein and the deep fibular nerve are also within this compartment.
The lateral compartment occupies a small portion of the muscular volume of the leg. It contains muscles that are primarily involved with eversion of the foot, tilting the sole of the foot laterally. These two muscles are fibularis longus and brevis, and their innervating nerve, the superficial fibular nerve.
The posterior compartment is a major contributor to human mobility, specifically in walking and running, and is thus composed of large muscles. The muscles of the large posterior group are primarily responsible for plantar flexion of the foot, a movement that allows us to stand on our tiptoes and an essential part of gait. These muscles essentially lift the entire body weight on contraction. The superficial group comprises three muscles that are the major contributors to plantar flexion – they are soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris. The muscles in the deep posterior group are involved with flexion of the toes as well as stabilization of the knee and arch of the foot, and are called flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, tibialis posterior and popliteus.
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The posterior compartment is a major contributor to mobility, specifically in walking and running
A muscle compartment is defined as an enclosed space formed by fascia or by a combination of fascia and bone that contains one or more muscles. The limbs can be divided into segments, and when these segments are cut transversely, it is apparent that they are divided into multiple sections. These sections are called fascial compartments and are formed by tough connective tissue septa.
The leg is divided into three muscular compartments, which can sometimes be classified as four muscle groups. The anterior and lateral compartments occupy only a small portion of the muscular volume of the leg. The posterior compartment, on the other hand, is a major contributor to mobility, specifically in walking and running. It is composed of large muscles that can be divided into deep and superficial groups.
The muscles of the large posterior group are primarily responsible for plantar flexion of the foot, a movement that allows us to stand on our tippy toes and is an essential part of gait. These muscles essentially lift the entire body weight on contraction. The superficial group comprises three muscles that are the major contributors to plantar flexion: soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris.
The muscles in the deep posterior group are involved with flexion of the toes, as well as stabilization of the knee and arch of the foot. These muscles include the flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, tibialis posterior, and popliteus. The posterior tibial artery and vein, the fibular artery and vein, and the tibial nerve, which provides innervation to all of the muscles in the posterior compartment, are also found in the deep posterior group.
The posterior compartment plays a crucial role in our mobility, especially during walking and running, due to the presence of these large and powerful muscles that enable essential movements such as plantar flexion and stabilization of the knee and arch of the foot. Compartment syndrome, a condition caused by swelling or bleeding within a compartment, can also impact mobility and is commonly associated with the lower leg and repetitive motions such as running.
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Compartments usually have separate nerve and blood supplies from their neighbours
A muscle compartment is a section within the body that contains muscles and nerves and is surrounded by deep fascia. The limbs can be divided into segments, and when these segments are cut transversely, it is apparent that they are divided into multiple sections. These sections are called fascial compartments, and are formed by tough connective tissue septa. The upper limb, for example, can be divided into the arm and forearm, each of which has anterior and posterior compartments. The lower limbs can be divided into the leg and thigh, each of which has its own fascial compartments.
The leg is divided into three or four muscle compartments, depending on the classification. The anterior and lateral compartments occupy only a small portion of the muscular volume of the leg. The posterior compartment, on the other hand, is composed of large muscles and is a major contributor to our mobility, especially in walking and running. These muscles can be further divided into deep and superficial groups.
The compartments usually have separate nerve and blood supplies from their neighbours. All the muscles within a compartment will generally be supplied by the same nerve. For example, the anterior compartment, also known as the extensor compartment, contains muscles that dorsiflex or extend the foot at the ankle joint, and muscles that flex the toes. They are tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and fibularis tertius. Also within this compartment is the anterior tibial artery and vein and the deep fibular nerve. The muscles within the lateral compartment, on the other hand, are primarily involved with eversion of the foot, tilting the sole of the foot laterally. These muscles are fibularis longus and brevis, and their innervating nerve, the superficial fibular nerve.
The muscles of the large posterior group are primarily responsible for plantar flexion of the foot, a movement that allows us to stand on our tippy toes and is an essential part of gait. These muscles essentially lift the entire body weight on contraction. The superficial group comprises three muscles which are the major contributors to plantar flexion – they are soleus, gastrocnemius, and plantaris. The muscles in the deep posterior group are involved with flexion of the toes as well as stabilization of the knee and arch of the foot. They are flexor digitorum longus, flexor hallucis longus, tibialis posterior, and popliteus. The posterior group also contains the posterior tibial artery and vein, the fibular artery and vein, and the tibial nerve, which provides innervation to all of the muscles in the posterior compartment.
The separate nerve and blood supplies to each compartment are important for maintaining proper functioning. If there is any inflammation or swelling in the leg, the pressure can affect the blood vessels and nerves, potentially blocking blood flow to the muscle. This condition is known as compartment syndrome, and it can lead to severe damage to the nerve and blood vessels, causing muscle death and possibly requiring amputation.
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Frequently asked questions
A muscle compartment is a well-defined region that contains a group of muscles within a particular segment of the body.
The arm is divided into two compartments, the anterior and posterior compartments.
The leg is divided into three or four muscle compartments: the anterior compartment, lateral compartment, posterior deep leg compartment, and posterior superficial compartment.
The muscles in the anterior compartment of the leg include the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and fibularis tertius.
