All Muscles

Lateral Compartment of the Leg

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Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.

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Last updated:

30/08/2025
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Della Barnes, MS Anatomy
UX/UI Designer at - Adobe

Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.

The lateral compartment of the leg is one of the main fascial compartments of the lower limb. It is relatively narrow and contains two muscles on the outer side of the leg. These muscles are vital for everting and stabilizing the foot, and play a key role in the gait cycle.

The compartment is enclosed laterally by the deep fascia and medially by the fibula. It is separated from the anterior compartment by the anterior intermuscular septum and from the posterior compartment by the posterior intermuscular septum.

Muscles in the Lateral Compartment and Their Anatomy

Filename: Muscles in the Lateral Compartment of the Leg (Caption: Muscles in the Lateral Compartment of the Leg)

There are two primary muscles in this compartment:

NameOriginInsertionInnervationBlood Supply
Fibularis LongusHead and lateral surface of upper two-thirds of fibulaBase of first metatarsal and medial cuneiformSuperficial fibular nerve (L5–S1)Fibular artery
Fibularis BrevisLateral surface of lower two-thirds of fibulaBase of fifth metatarsalSuperficial fibular nerve (L5–S1)Fibular artery

Accessory Muscles

The fibularis muscles can show considerable variation, although the fibularis longus and fibularis brevis are consistently present in most individuals. In some cases, additional small accessory muscles are found. The most common of these is the peroneus quartus, a slender muscle that sometimes lies near the tendons of the extensor digitorum longus and may send a small tendon to the little toe.

Functions of the Lateral Leg Muscles

Eversion

The fibularis longus and brevis are the primary muscles for eversion of the foot, which means turning the sole outward. This movement helps distribute body weight more evenly across the foot during standing and walking. It also provides support to the lateral side of the ankle, protecting it against excessive inversion, the most common cause of ankle sprains.

Plantar Flexion

These muscles also contribute to plantarflexion, or pointing the toes downward. They act as secondary plantar flexors, assisting the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris, the primary plantar flexors from the posterior compartment. This movement is essential for pushing the foot off the ground during walking and is also used in activities like standing on tiptoes or pressing a car pedal.

Since both fibularis longus and brevis originate from the fibula and share similar functions, they are collectively referred to as the fibularis (or peroneus) muscle group. The word “peroneus” comes from the Greek perónē, meaning “clasp” or “brooch,” a reference to the fibula’s slender form beside the larger tibia.

The fibularis tertius, a muscle in the anterior compartment, may also be included in the fibularis group as it also originates from the fibula, inserts in the foot, and acts as an accessory muscle in eversion of foot. However, this muscle is not always present.

References

  1. Muscles in the Lateral Compartment of the Leg: TeachMeAnatomy.info
  2. Lateral Compartment of the Leg: Radiopaedia.org
  3. Fibular/Peroneal Muscles of the Leg: Kenhub.com
  4. Peroneal Muscles: Earthslab.com
  5. Accessory Peroneal Muscles: Radiopaedia.org
  6. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Leg Lateral Compartment: NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
Avatar photo
Della Barnes, MS AnatomyUX/UI Designer at - Adobe

Della Barnes, an MS Anatomy graduate, blends medical research with accessible writing, simplifying complex anatomy for a better understanding and appreciation of human anatomy.

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