
Anterior & Lateral
Fascial Compartments
of the leg
Lab Session 8
Dr. Hayder Jalil Al-Assam
MBChB (Iraq), MRes Anatomy (UK)
: dr_hayder_anatomy@yahoo.com

Fascial Compartments of the leg
• There are three compartments
of the leg:
1. Anterior fascial compartment
2. Lateral fascial compartment
3. Posterior fascial
compartment (has deep and
superficial sub-divisions by
deep transverse fascia of the
leg).

Retinacula of the ankle
1. Superior Extensor retinaculum
2. Inferior Extensor retinaculum
3. Flexor Retinaculum
4. Superior Peroneal retinaculum
5. Inferior Peroneal retinaculum

• Superior Extensor
Retinaculum
• Inferior Extensor
Retinaculum

• Superior Peroneal
Retinaculum
• Inferior Peroneal
Retinaculum
• Flexor Retinaculum

Anterior Fascial Compartment
• Muscles: The tibialis anterior,
extensor digitorum longus,
peroneus tertius, and extensor
hallucis longus
• Blood supply: Anterior tibial artery
• Nerve supply: Deep peroneal nerve

Muscles of the Anterior Compartment
• Tibialis Anterior
• Extensor digitorum
longus
• Peroneus tertius
• Extensor hallucis
longus

Blood &
Nerve
Supply

Lateral Fascial Compartment
• Muscles: Peroneus
longus & peroneus brevis
• Blood supply: Branches
from the peroneal artery
• Nerve supply: Superficial
peroneal nerve.

Arterial & nerve Supply

Compartment Syndrome
It is an Increase intra-compartmental pressure leading to
compromised blood supply to the muscles – death of muscle
cells. ( treatment is simple fasciotomy)

Thank You