Anterior compartment of the forearm

Anterior compartment of the forearm
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. (Anterior compartment is at top; posterior compartment is at bottom.)
Artery	ulnar artery
Nerve	median nerve (anterior interosseous nerve), ulnar nerve (muscular branches of ulnar nerve)

The anterior compartment of the forearm contains the following muscles:

Level	Muscle	E/I	Nerve
superficial	flexor carpi radialis	E	median
superficial	palmaris longus	E	median
superficial	flexor carpi ulnaris	E	ulnar
superficial	pronator teres	I	median
superficial (or intermediate)	flexor digitorum superficialis	E	median
deep	flexor digitorum profundus	E	ulnar + median
deep	flexor pollicis longus	E	median
deep	pronator quadratus	I	median

• "E/I" refers to "extrinsic" or "intrinsic".

The muscles are largely involved with flexion and pronation. The superficial muscles have their origin on the common flexor tendon.

See also

• Compartment syndrome
• Posterior compartment of the forearm

External links

• Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 273 1117

Additional images

• 

  Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.

• 

  Transverse section across the wrist and digits.