Posterior compartment of the forearm

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Posterior compartment of the forearm
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. (Anterior compartment is at top; posterior compartment is at bottom.)
Artery	radial artery, radial recurrent artery , profunda brachii, posterior interosseous artery
Nerve	radial nerve[1], posterior interosseous nerve

The posterior compartment of the forearm contains the following muscles:

Level	Muscle	E/I
(see below)	brachioradialis	I
superficial	extensor carpi radialis longus	E
superficial	extensor carpi radialis brevis	E
superficial	extensor carpi ulnaris	E
intermediate	extensor digitorum (communis)	E
intermediate	extensor digiti minimi (proprius)	E
deep	abductor pollicis longus	E
deep	extensor pollicis brevis	E
deep	extensor pollicis longus	E
deep	extensor indicis (proprius)	E
deep	supinator	I
deep	anconeus	I

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

The Brachioradialis, flexor of the forearm, is unusual in that it is located in the posterior compartment, but it is actually in the anterior portion of the forearm.

See also

• Compartment syndrome
• Anterior compartment of the forearm

Additional images

Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.

Transverse section across the wrist and digits.

References

v • d • e List of muscles of upper limbs
VERTEBRAL COLUMN	trapezius - latissimus dorsi - rhomboid (major, minor) - levator scapulae
THORACIC WALLS	pectoralis major - pectoralis minor - subclavius - serratus anterior
SHOULDER	deltoid - rotator cuff (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) - teres major
ARM	anterior compartment: coracobrachialis - biceps brachii - brachialis posterior compartment: triceps brachii - anconeus
FOREARM	anterior compartment: superf. - pronator teres - palmaris longus - flexor carpi radialis - flexor carpi ulnaris - flexor digitorum superficialis anterior compartment: deep - pronator quadratus - flexor digitorum profundus - flexor pollicis longus posterior compartment: superf. - mobile wad (brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis) - extensor digitorum, - extensor digiti minimi - extensor carpi ulnaris posterior compartment: deep - supinator - anatomical snuff box (abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus) - extensor indicis
HAND	lateral volar - thenar (opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis) - adductor pollicis medial volar - hypothenar (opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor minimi digiti) - palmaris brevis intermediate - lumbrical - interossei (dorsal, palmar)

v • d • e General anatomy of upper limbs
Arm	Axilla • Axillary sheath • axillary folds (Anterior, Posterior) spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) • Clavipectoral triangle compartment of arm (Posterior, Anterior) fascia (Axillary, Brachial) - intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial)
Forearm	Cubital fossa (Bicipital aponeurosis) • Cubital tunnel • common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) • Interosseous membrane of the forearm compartment of forearm (Posterior, Anterior) fascia (Antebrachial fascia)
Hand	posterior: Extensor retinaculum • Extensor expansion • Vincula tendina • Anatomical snuff box anterior: Flexor retinaculum • Carpal tunnel • Palmar aponeurosis • Ulnar canal • Synovial sheath (Common synovial sheath for the flexor tendons]) Finger