Lateral compartment of the leg

The lateral compartment of the leg, also known as the peroneal compartment, is one of the four compartments in the leg between the knee and foot. Muscles within this compartment primarily produce ankle and foot eversion.

The leg is separated into anterior, lateral, superficial posterior, and deep posterior compartments by intermuscular septa and surrounded by the deep fascia of the leg.

Gross anatomy

Boundaries

• anteriorly: anterior intermuscular septum
• posteriorly: posterior intermuscular septum
• medially: fibula (peroneal surface)
• laterally: deep fascia of the leg

Contents

Muscles

• peroneus brevis muscle
• peroneus longus muscle

Blood supply

• arterial supply: perforating branches of the anterior tibial artery and peroneal artery
• venous drainage
  • superficial: veins drain into small saphenous vein
  • deep: fibular veins drain into posterior tibial vein

Innervation

• superficial peroneal nerve