The anterior compartment of the arm is the flexor compartment, lying in front of the humerus and the medial and lateral intermuscular septa. It contains biceps brachii, brachialis and coracobrachialis, all supplied by the musculocutaneous nerve, along with the brachial artery and median nerve in its medial part.
| Location | Front of the upper arm. |
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Holds the elbow flexors and the main neurovascular bundle of the arm.
Compartment syndrome of the arm is rare but can follow crush injuries, humeral fractures, prolonged compression or intravenous infiltration, and is treated by anterior fasciotomy. The brachial artery lies in the medial bicipital groove of this compartment, where it is used for blood pressure measurement and can be compressed to control bleeding.
Raised pressure in the flexor compartment of the arm causing pain on passive elbow extension and risk to the biceps, brachialis and nearby nerves.
Displaced supracondylar fractures can injure the brachial artery and median nerve at the lower end of this compartment.
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