The nerve associated with the posterior compartment of the leg is the tibial nerve (Fig. 6.90), a major branch of the sciatic nerve that descends into the posterior compartment from the popliteal fossa.
The tibial nerve passes under the tendinous arch formed between the fibular and tibial heads of the soleus muscle and passes vertically through the deep region of the posterior compartment of the leg on the surface of the tibialis posterior muscle with the posterior tibial vessels.