Anterior compartment of the forearm

Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. (Anterior compartment is at top; posterior compartment is at bottom.)

Details
Artery| Ulnar artery
Nerve| Median nerve (anterior interosseous nerve), ulnar nerve (muscular branches of ulnar nerve)
Identifiers
Latin| compartimentum antebrachii anterius
TA98| A04.6.01.004
TA2| 2476
FMA| 12255
Anatomical terminology

[edit on Wikidata]

The anterior compartment of the forearm (or flexor compartment)[1] contains the following muscles:[2]

Level | Muscle | Extrinsic/Intrinsic | Nerve

|
|
|

superficial | flexor carpi radialis | extrinsic | median
superficial | palmaris longus | extrinsic | median
superficial | flexor carpi ulnaris | extrinsic | ulnar
superficial | pronator teres | intrinsic | median
superficial (or intermediate) | flexor digitorum superficialis | extrinsic | median
deep | flexor digitorum profundus | extrinsic | ulnar + median (as anterior interosseous nerve)
deep | flexor pollicis longus | extrinsic | median (as anterior interosseous nerve)
deep | pronator quadratus | intrinsic | median (as anterior interosseous nerve)

The muscles are largely involved with flexion and supination.[2] The superficial muscles have their origin on the common flexor tendon.[2] The ulnar nerve and artery are also contained within this compartment.[2] The flexor digitorum superficialis lies in between the other four muscles of the superficial group and the three muscles of the deep group. This is why it is also classified as the intermediate group.[2]

## See also

[edit]

* Compartment syndrome
* Posterior compartment of the forearm

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Topographical Anatomy of the Upper Limb - Listed Alphabetically". University of Arkansas. Archived from the original on 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
2. ^ a b c d e Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.; Agur, Anne M. R. (2010). "Upper Limb". Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 746–749. ISBN 978-0-7817-7525-0.

## External links

[edit]

* MedicalMnemonics.com: 273 1117
* Topographical Anatomy of the Upper Limb - Listed Alphabetically Archived 2008-01-19 at the Wayback Machine University of Arkansas

## Additional images

[edit]

* Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.

* Transverse section across the wrist and digits.

* v
* t
* e

Muscles of the arm

Shoulder|

* deltoid
* rotator cuff
* supraspinatus
* infraspinatus
* teres minor
* subscapularis
* teres major

fascia:|

* deltoid fascia
* supraspinous fascia
* infraspinous fascia

Arm
(compartments)|

| anterior|

* coracobrachialis
* biceps
* brachialis

|

posterior|

* triceps brachii
* anconeus
* articularis cubiti

fascia|

* axillary sheath
* axillary fascia
* brachial fascia
* intermuscular septa
* lateral
* medial

other|

* spaces
* quadrangular space
* triangular space
* triangular interval

Forearm
(compartments)|

| anterior|

| superficial:|

* pronator teres
* palmaris longus
* flexor carpi radialis
* flexor carpi ulnaris
* flexor digitorum superficialis

|

deep:|

* pronator quadratus
* flexor digitorum profundus
* flexor pollicis longus

posterior|

|  superficial:|

* mobile wad
* brachioradialis
* extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis
* extensor digitorum
* extensor digiti minimi
* extensor carpi ulnaris

|

deep:|

* supinator
* anatomical snuffbox
* abductor pollicis longus
* extensor pollicis brevis
* extensor pollicis longus
* extensor indicis

fascia|

* bicipital aponeurosis
* common tendons
* extensor
* flexor
* antebrachial fascia

other|

* cubital tunnel
* osborne's ligament

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 digiti minimi
* palmaris brevis

intermediate|

* lumbrical
* interossei
* dorsal
* palmar

fascia|

| posterior:|

* extensor retinaculum
* extensor expansion

|

anterior:|

* flexor retinaculum
* palmar aponeurosis

Authority control databases |

* Terminologia Anatomica

|

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