Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) multistage receiving coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The RF multistage receiving coil assembly includes a plurality of RF coils, wherein each RF coil of the plurality of RF coils includes a plurality of flexible loops having a malleable conductor. The RF multistage receiving coil also includes a plurality of flexible enclosures, wherein a respective RF coil of the plurality of RF coils is disposed within a respective flexible enclosure of the plurality of flexible enclosures. The RF multistage receiving coil assembly is configured to be adjusted and disposed about an extremity of a subject to enable functional imaging of the extremity with the MRI system.