The muscles of the posterior compartment of the forearm are responsible for:

  • Movements of the wrist joint
  • Extension of the fingers
  • Supination

They can be divided into superficial and deep layers.

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

Superficial layer

There are seven muscles are found in this layer, and they all originate from the supraepicondylar ridge and lateral epicondyle of the humerus, and, except for the brachioradialis and anconeus, arrive at the hand as tendons, forming the extrinsic extensors of the hand:

  • Brachioradialis
  • Extensor carpi radialis longus
  • Extensor carpi radialis brevis
  • Extensor digitorum muscle
  • Extensor digiti minimi
  • Extensor carpi ulnaris
  • Anconeus
Figure 1. Superficial muscles of the forearm (dorsal view)

Brachioradialis

  • The brachioradialis muscle crosses laterally the forearm from its humeral origin to insert on the lateral side of the distal end of the radius.
  • It has a strict relation with the radial nerve, which lies deep to it.
  • It flexes the elbow joint when the forearm is midpronated.

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