Popliteal Fossa

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Overview of Popliteal Fossa

• a diamond shaped depression posterior to the knee joint

• important nerves and vessels pass through the fossa, including 2 terminal branches of the sciatic nerve, the popliteal vessels, and the short saphenous vein

Borders of Popliteal Fossa

Superomedial → semimembranosus & semitendinosus

Superolateralateral → biceps femoris

Inferomedial → medial head of gastrocnemius

Inferolateral → lateral head of gastrocnemius, plantaris

Floor → knee joint capsule, distal femur, proximal tibia, popliteus muscle

Roof → popliteal fascia

Contents of Popliteal Fossa

Nerves

• the nerves are the most superficial of the structures passing through the popliteal fossa and include:

  • tibial nerve

  • common fibular nerve

  • sural nerve

  • posterior femoral cutaneous nerve

• the sciatic nerve bifurcates into the tibial and common fibular nerves at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa

• the tibial nerve passes through the fossa inferiorly and exits deep to plantaris to enter the posterior compartment of the leg

• the common fibular nerve traverses the fossa close to the medial border of biceps femoris before exiting superficial to the lateral head of gastrocnemius

Blood Vessels

• the popliteal artery (branch of the femoral artery) enters the poplital fossa by passing under semimembranosus, travels through the fossa inferolaterally, and enters the posterior compartment of the leg where it branches off to form 5 genicular arteries that supply the knee

• the popliteal vein is a continuation of the posterior tibial vein and lies superficial to the popliteal artery

  • it becomes the femoral vein after exiting the fossa superiorly

• the short saphenous vein anastomoses with the popliteal vein within the fossa

Lymph Nodes

• popliteal lymph nodes

Mnemonic

• from medial to lateral

Serve And Volley Next Ball.

• Semimembranosus/Semitendinosus

• Artery (popliteal)

• Vein (popliteal)

• Nerve (sciatic)

• Biceps femoris