Final answer:
The anterior compartment of the hand contains muscles such as the flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor pollicis longus, and flexor digitorum profundus, involved in wrist and finger flexion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anterior (palmar) compartment of the hand contains structures primarily involved in the flexion and movement of the wrist and fingers. The extrinsic muscles originating from the forearm and inserting onto the hand include the flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor digitorum superficialis in the superficial anterior compartment. The deep anterior compartment consists of the flexor pollicis longus and the flexor digitorum profundus, which help in bending the fingers to make a fist. These muscles function collectively to enable rapid finger movements as well as strong gripping actions, and are crucial in tasks such as typing or playing musical instruments.