Anterior compartment of the forearm

The forearm is divided into the anterior compartment and the posterior compartment by the deep fascia, lateral intermuscular septum and the interosseous membrane between the ulna and radius.

Muscles

The eight muscles located in the anterior compartment of the forearm can be divided into three layers - superficial, intermediate and deep .

Superficial layer

• flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU)
• palmaris longus muscle (PL)
• flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR)
• pronator teres muscle (PT)

Intermediate layer

• flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (FDS)

Deep layer

• flexor digitorum profundus muscle (FDP)
• flexor pollicis longus muscle (FPL)
• pronator quadratus muscle (PQ)

Arterial supply

• ulnar artery
• radial artery

Innervation

The median nerve supplies the anterior compartment musculature except the ulnar (medial) part of the FDP and FCU muscles, which are supplied by the ulnar nerve.