posterior compartment of thigh

Definition: posterior portion of the space enclosed by the fascia lata, separated from the medial and anterior compartments by the posterior and lateral intermuscular septa, respectively; contains the hamstring muscles (extensor of the thigh at the hip joint and flexors of the leg at the knee joint) and the short head of the biceps; all innervated by the sciatic nerve (the former by the tibial nerve portion, the latter by the fibular nerve portion).

Synonym(s): compartimentum femoris posteriusTA, compartimentum femoris flexorum, flexor compartment of thigh, compartment of thigh for extensors of hip joint, compartment of thigh for flexors of knee

Search Stedman's Medical Dictionary