The posterior compartment of the forearm (or extensor compartment) contains the following muscles:

Muscles

Level

Muscle

E/I >- | (see below)

brachioradialis Brachioradialis Brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm...

>- | superficial

extensor carpi radialis longus

>- | superficial

extensor carpi radialis brevis

>- | superficial

extensor carpi ulnaris

>- | intermediate

extensor digitorum

>- | intermediate

extensor digiti minimi

>- | deep

abductor pollicis longus

>- | deep

extensor pollicis brevis

>- | deep

extensor pollicis longus

>- | deep

extensor indicis

>- | deep

supinator

>- | deep

anconeus

I

• "E/I" refers to "extrinsic" or "intrinsic".

The Brachioradialis, flexor of the forearm, is unusual in that it is located in the posterior compartment, but it is actually in the anterior portion of the forearm.

Innervation

All muscles of the posterior compartment of the forearm are innervated by the radial nerve

Radial nerve

The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the upper limb. It supplies the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin.It...

 of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus

Brachial plexus

The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...

. The somatomotor fibers of the radial nerve branch from the main radial nerve at the level of the radial groove of the humerus

Humerus

The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....

.