Posterior compartment of the forearm

Posterior compartment of the forearm
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. (Anterior compartment is at top; posterior compartment is at bottom.)
Details
Latin	compartimentum antebrachii posterius
Artery	radial artery, radial recurrent artery , profunda brachii, posterior interosseous artery
Nerve	radial nerve,[1] posterior interosseous nerve
Identifiers
TA	A04.6.01.007
FMA	38411
Anatomical terminology

The posterior compartment of the forearm (or extensor compartment)^[2] contains 12 muscles which are chiefly responsible for extension of the wrist and digits, and supination of the forearm. It is separated from the anterior compartment by the interosseous membrane between the radius and ulna.

The brachioradialis, flexor of the elbow, is unusual in that it is located in the posterior compartment, but it is actually in the anterior portion of the forearm. The anconeus, assisting in extension of the elbow joint, is by some considered part of the posterior compartment of the arm.

Muscles

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

Innervation

The muscles of the posterior compartment of the forearm are innervated by the radial nerve. The radial nerve arises from the posterior cord of the plexus. The somatomotor fibers of the radial nerve branch from the main radial nerve at the level of the radial groove of the humerus.

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