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3 COMPARTMENTS OF LEG SKIN
This is called an emergency fasciotomy and is usually left open for a few days to allow the tissues to recover before being closed, sometimes with a skin graft. The remedy for this condition is to make an incision in the fascial layer surrounding the affected compartment, allowing the tissues to expand and blood flow to return to the area. Blood vessels can become compressed and blood will not be able to flow into or out of the compartment, leading to ischemia of the tissues.
![3 compartments of leg 3 compartments of leg](http://image.slidesharecdn.com/thigh-100126090211-phpapp01/95/thigh-5-728.jpg)
The swelling of the tissues leads to compression of the other structures within the compartment, as the tightly bound fascia prevents expansion. This occurs when a compartment swells which may be caused by trauma or infection. However this fascial layer can also lead to a pretty serious condition called compartment syndrome. The intermediate area of skin of the posterior leg is innervated by the sural cutaneous branches (lateral and medial) of the tibial and common fibular nn. All of these muscles adduct the lower limb (or bring it closer to the midline) except the obturator externus, which laterally rotates the thigh at the hip.Īs we said before, each of these compartments are encapsulated by tough, inextensible fascia which helps the groups of muscles to move around one another and limits the spread of infection. The posterosuperior skin of the leg is innervated by terminal posterior femoral cutaneous n. The medial compartment of the thigh contains six muscles – gracilis, pectineus, obturator externus, and adductors longus, brevis, and magnus. These muscles are collectively referred to as the hamstrings (?Bonus points for anyone who can tell us why they are called hamstrings❗) – they are biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. There are three long muscles in the posterior compartment, all of which flex the knee joint and extend the hip joint.
![3 compartments of leg 3 compartments of leg](https://els-jbs-prod-cdn.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/cms/attachment/2027849341/2046322736/gr1_lrg.jpg)
Iliopsoas travels from the abdomen and pelvis into the thigh to flex the hip, the vastus muscles extend the knee, and rectus femoris and sartorius act on both joints. The anterior compartment consists of muscles that contract to flex the hip and extend the knee. The different muscle compartments of the thigh Surrounding the centrally located femur are three intermuscular septa, creating divisions between the anterior, posterior, and medial compartments of the thigh. Let’s take a look at the compartments in the thigh, and then discover why compartment syndrome is a potentially serious condition requiring emergency surgical intervention. A condition known as compartment syndrome most commonly affects the divisions of the lower limb, although the upper limb may also be affected. Both the thigh and leg are divided into three separate compartments. Lateral side of the base of the 5th metatarsal boneģ.Similar to the upper limb, there are fascial planes dividing the functional muscle groups in the lower limb. Anterior and posterior intermuscular septa Lower 2/3rd of the lateral surface of the fibulaĢ. Peroneus brevis (smaller and lies deep to the peroneus longus)ġ. Lateral side of the base of the 1st metatarsalĢ. Anterior and posterior intermuscular septaġ. Adjoining surface of the lateral condyle of the tibiaģ. Upper 2/3rd of the lateral surface of the fibulaĢ. Peroneus longus (larger and lies superficial to the peroneus brevis)ġ. Muscles of The Lateral Compartment of The Leg Muscles The contents of lateral compartment of the leg are supplied by the branches of the peroneal artery (a branch of posterior tibial artery) which reaches the lateral compartment by flexor hallucis longus and posterior intermuscular septum. 4 Identify the bones, ligaments, and cartilages of the knee and. 3 Identify the muscles, nerves, and vessels on the dorsum of the foot. 2 Identify the muscles in the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg and discuss their actions, innervations, and blood supply.
![3 compartments of leg 3 compartments of leg](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkab5HXcts4/TbGiL1jQdiI/AAAAAAAAAR8/v2Z1doku-lg/s1600/day3-leftleg.jpg)