Fascial compartments of thigh

The fascial compartments of thigh are the three fascial compartments that divide and contain the thigh muscles. The fascia lata is the strong and deep fascia of the thigh that surrounds the thigh muscles and forms the outer limits of the compartments. Internally the muscle compartments are divided by the lateral and medial intermuscular septa.

The three groups of muscles contained in the compartments have their own nerve supply:

Compartments

Compartment Muscles Neurovascular structures Anterior compartment (front of the thigh) Sartorius muscle, Quadriceps (Rectus femoris, Vastus lateralis, Vastus intermedius and Vastus medialis), Articularis genus Femoral nerve Medial compartment (inner thigh/groin) Pectineus,In most population, pectineus is innervated by femoral nerve. External obturator, Gracilis muscle, Adductors (longus, brevis, and magnus) Obturator nerve Posterior compartment (back of the thigh) 'hamstring portion' of the Adductor magnus, Biceps femoris, Semitendinosus and Semimembranosus Sciatic nerve

See also Compartment syndrome Fascial compartments of arm

References

External links knee/muscles/index at the Dartmouth Medical School's Department of Anatomy