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Popliteal Fossa

Dr. Carmen Olivia Sanoria

* Diamond shaped intermuscular space found at the posterioraspect of the knee.

* Prominent with the knee joint flexed.

* Boundaries:

- Laterally:

(Above) biceps femoris muscle. (Below) Lateral head of the gastrocnemius & plantaris

muscle.- Medially:

(Above) Semimembranosus muscle. (Above) Semitendinosus muscle. (Below) Medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle.

- Floor Popliteal surface of the femur. Posterior ligament of the knee joint. Popliteus muscle.

- Roof Skin. Superficial fascia of the thigh.

Deep fascia of the thigh (fascia lata).

* Popliteus muscle- Flat, thin muscle of triangular outline lying in the floor of the

lower part of the popliteal fossa.

* Popliteal artery- Continuation of the femoral artery.- Enters the popliteal fossa through the opening of the

adductor magnus muscle.- Terminate at the lower boarder of the popliteus muscle as

anterior & posterior tibial arteries.

- Relations:

Anteriorly:- Popliteal surface of the femur.- Oblique popliteal ligament of the knee joint.- Popliteus muscle.

Posteriorly:- Skin.- Fascia.- Popliteal vessel- Tibial nerve.

- Branches: Muscular branches. Anterior tibial artery. Articular branch of the knee. Posterior tibial artery.

* Popliteal vein- Formed at the junction of the venae comitantes of the

anterior & posterior tibial artery.- Initially commence at the medial side of the popliteal artery

as it course upward then cross the artery to becomelateral.

- Exit the popliteal fossa thru the opening of the adductormagnus muscle to become the femoral vein.

- Tributaries:

Corresponding veins to arterial branch of the poplitealartery.

Small saphenous vein.

* Arterial anastomosis of the knee joint

Small branches of thefemoral artery

Muscular branch of the

popliteal artery

Branches of the

anterior tibial artery

Articular branch of thepopliteal artery

Branches of the posterior tibial artery

* Popliteal lymph nodes- 6 nodes embedded in the fatty connective tissue of the

popliteal fossa.- Recipient of the superficial lymph vessel from the lateral

side of the leg, knee joint, and foot in company of thesmallsaphenous.

- Recipient of the deep lymph vessel accompanying theanterior & posterior tibial artery.

* Tibial nerve- Larger terminal branch of the sciatic nerve.- Course:

Sciatic nerve

Lower 1/3 of the thigh Lower 1/3 of the thigh

Tibial nerve Common peroneal nerve

Posterior compartment ofthe thigh beneath the

soleus muscle

Leaves the popliteal fossato pierce the peroneus

longus

Muscular branchArticular branchCutaneus branch

* Posterior tibial artery- Origin: popliteal artery.- Termination: Medial & lateral plantar artery.

- Branches: Peroneal artery.

- 1st branch.- Gives nutrient artery to: (which pierce the

interosseous membrane). To fibula. Muscular branches. Perforating branches.

Muscular branches.- Supply the muscles at the back of the leg.

Nutrient artery of the tibia. Anastomotic branches. Medial & lateral plantar artery.

- Its venae comitantes joins the venae comitantes ofthe anterior tibial artery forming the poplitealvein.

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* Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.- Supply the skin over the popliteal fossa.

* Obturator nerve- Enter the popliteal fossa by entering the opening in the

adductor magnus muscle.- Terminate by supplying the knee joint.

Posterior Compartment of the Leg

* Comprise the back of the leg.* Structures:

Skin:- Cutaneus nerves

Posterior cutaneus nerve of the thigh.- Supply the skin over the popliteal fossa & upper

part of the back of the leg. Lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf.

- Supply the skin over the upper part of theposterolateral surface of the leg.

Sural nerve.- Supply the skin over the lower part of the

posterolateral surface of the leg. Saphenous nerve.

- Supply the skin on the posteromedial surface of theleg.

- Superficial veins. Small saphenous vein tributaries.

- Numerous small veins of the back of the legs- Communicating veins with deep veins of the foot.- Anastomotic branch.- Terminates by joining the popliteal vein or great

saphenous vein, splitting into 2 and joint 1each to great saphenous & popliteal vein.

- Lymph vessels Superficial inguinal lymph node.

Popliteal nodes.

Muscles:- Divided into superficial & deep group by the deep

transverse fascia.

ENCODED BY: dasal, fabian