posterior compartment of leg posterior compartment of leg the posterior compartment of the leg is one of the fascial compartments of the leg and is divided further into deep and superficial compartments. posterior compartment of legdiagram of leg compartmentsdissection video of posterior compartment of leg (6 min 39 sec)detailsarteryposterior tibial arterynervetibial nerveidentifierslatincompartimentum cruris posteriusta98a04.7.01.006ta22654fma45167anatomical terminology structure superficial posterior compartment imagemuscleorigininsertioninnervationmain action ! gastrocnemiuslateral head: lateral aspect of lateral condyle of femur medial head: popliteal surface of femur; superior to medial condyleposterior surface of calcaneus via calcaneal tendontibial nerve (s1, s2)plantarflexes ankle when knee is extended; raises heel during walking; flexes leg at knee joint plantarisinferior end of lateral supracondylar line of femur; oblique popliteal ligamentweakly assists gastrocnemius in plantarflexing ankle soleusposterior aspect of head and superior quarter of posterior surface of fibula; soleal line and middle third of medial border of tibia; and tendinous arch extending between the bony attachmentsplantarflexes ankle independent of position of knee; steadies leg on foot deep posterior compartment imagemuscleorigininsertioninnervationmain action flexor hallucis longus muscleinferior two-thirds of posterior surface of fibula; inferior part of interosseous membranebase of distal phalanx of big toe (hallux)tibial nerve (s1, s2)flexes big toe at all joints; weakly plantarflexes ankle; supports medial longitudinal arch of foot tibialis posterior muscleinterosseous membrane; posterior surface of tibia inferior to soleal line; posterior surface of fibulatuberosity of navicular, cuneiform, cuboid, and sustentaculum tali of calcaneus; bases of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metatarsals tibial nerve (l4, l5)plantarflexes ankle; inverts foot flexor digitorum longus musclemedial part of posterior surface of tibia; by a broad tendon to fibulabases of distal phalanges of lateral four digitstibial nerve (s1, s2)flexes lateral four digits; plantarflexes ankle; supports longitudinal arches of foot popliteus musclelateral surface of lateral condyle of femur and lateral meniscusanimation. posterior surface of tibia, superior to soleal linetibial nerve (l4, l5, s1)weakly flexes knee and unlocks it by rotating femur 5 deg on fixed tibia; medially rotates tibia of unplanted limb blood supply posterior tibial artery innervation the posterior compartment of the leg is supplied by the tibial nerve. function it contains the plantar flexors: additional images superficial posterior compartment. animation. deep posterior compartment. animation.