Muscles of the Anterior Compartment of the Leg

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

There are 4 muscles that make up the anterior compartment of the leg:

1. Tibialis Anterior
2. Extensor Hallucis Longus
3. Extensor Digitorum Longus
4. Fibularis Tertius

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Extensor digitorum longus	Lateral condyle of Tibia Fibular head and medial surface IO membrane	Dorsal aponeurosis of 2-5th distal phalanges	Deep Fibular n. L4 - L5	TCJ: DF STJ: INV or EV (position dependent) 2nd-5th Toe: MTP Extension, PIP Extension, DIP Extension
Extensor Hallucis Longus	Fibula (middle 1/3 of medial surface) IO membrane	Dorsal aponeurosis of 1st distal phalanx	Deep Fibular n. L4 - L5	TCJ: DF STJ: Inversion 1st Toe: MTP Extension, IP Extension
Fibularis tertius	Anterior border of Distal Fibula	Shaft or Base of 5th MT	Deep Fibular n. L4 - L5	TCJ: DF STJ: Eversion
Tibialis Anterior	Tibia (Upper 2/3 of lateral surface) IO membrane Superficial crural fascia	Medial cuneiform (Medial & plantar surface) 1st Metatarsal (medial base)	Deep Fibular n. L4 - L5	TCJ: DF STJ: Inversion

The Fibularis Tertius is the most anterior muscle out of the 4¹.

References

1.

Olewnik Ł. Fibularis Tertius: Anatomical Study and Review of the Literature. Clinical Anatomy (New York, NY). 2019;32(8):1082-1093. doi:10.1002/ca.23449