Slideshow: Popliteal Fossa The Funky Professor videos can be viewed here; http://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/journal/video?videoTaxonomy=FUNK

1. The Popliteal Fossa

2. The Popliteal Fossa is a
diamond-shaped intermuscular area
found on the posterior aspect of the knee
joint

3. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa

4. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Upper Medial Boundary
Comprises two muscles
•Semimembranosus
•Semitendinosus

5. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Upper Medial Boundary
•Semimembranosus
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

6. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Upper Medial Boundary
•Semitendinosus
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

7. Proximal
Thigh
Semimembranosus
Knee joint line
Cadaver specimen of
posterior thigh
Upper Medial Border
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

8. Proximal
Thigh
Semitendinosus
Cadaver specimen of
posterior thigh
Upper Medial Border
Knee joint line
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

9. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Upper Lateral Boundary
Tendon of Biceps Femoris

10. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Upper Lateral Boundary
Tendon of Biceps Femoris
Posterior view, right thigh

11. Biceps Femoris
Cadaver specimen of
posterior thigh
Upper Lateral Border
Posterior view, right thigh

12. The upper angle of the
Popliteal Fossa is where
Biceps Femoris meets
Semimembranosus and Semitendinosus
Posterior view, right thigh

13. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Lower Lateral Boundary
Lateral Head of Gastrocnemius

14. Lateral Head Gastrocnemius
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

15. Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa
Lower Medial Boundary
Medial Head of Gastrocnemius

16. Medial Head of
Gastrocnemius
Posterior view, right thigh and knee

17. Lateral Head Gastrocnemius
Medial Head of
Gastrocnemius
Distal or Inferior angle of
Popliteal Fossa

18. Gastrocnemius arises by two heads:
One from the Medial Femoral Condyle
and one from the Lateral Femoral
Condyle
Distally the two heads converge to
form the Distal or Inferior angle of the
Popliteal Fossa
Lateral Head Gastrocnemius
Medial Head of
Gastrocnemius
Distal or Inferior angle of
Popliteal Fossa

19. Lateral Head of
Gastrocnemius
Medial Head of
Gastrocnemius
Cadaver specimen of
posterior thigh
Lower Medial and Lateral Borders

20. Upper Medial
Boundary
Lower Medial
Boundary
Upper Lateral
Boundary
Lower Lateral
Boundary
Upper Medial Boundary
Semitendinosus
Semimembranosus
Upper Lateral Boundary
Tendon of Biceps Femoris
Lower Medial Boundary
Medial Head of Gastrocnemius
Lower Lateral Boundary
Lateral Head of Gastrocnemius

21. Upper Medial
Boundary
Lower Medial
Boundary
Upper Lateral
Boundary
Lower Lateral
Boundary
The roof of the Popliteal Fossa
is a fibrous structure called the
Popliteal Fascia
The popliteal fascia is continuous
•Proximally with the deep fascia of
the thigh – Fascia Lata
•Distally with the deep fascia of the
leg - Crural Fascia

22. Contents of the Popliteal Fossa
From Superficial to Deep are
•Sciatic Nerve
•Popliteal Vein
•Popliteal Artery

23. Tibial Component of
Sciatic Nerve
The Sciatic Nerve divides into
two terminal branches near the
Upper Angle of the
Popliteal Fossa
Biceps Femoris
Semimembranosus
Medial Head
Gastrocnemius Lateral Head
Gastrocnemius

24. Common Peroneal
Component of
Sciatic Nerve
The Sciatic Nerve divides into
two terminal branches near the
Upper Angle of the
Popliteal Fossa
Biceps Femoris
Semimembranosus
Medial Head
Gastrocnemius Lateral Head
Gastrocnemius

25. Popliteal Vein
The Popliteal Vein
changes name to the
Femoral Vein at the
Adductor Hiatus

26. Popliteal Vein
The Popliteal Vein
changes name to the
Femoral Vein at the
Adductor Hiatus
It receives numerous tributaries
but in the context of
varicose vein disease the
Short Saphenous Vein is
particularly important

27. The Popliteal Artery lies in front of the
Popliteal Vein and immediately behind
the capsule of the Knee Joint

28. The Popliteal Artery lies in front of the
Popliteal Vein and immediately behind
the capsule of the Knee Joint

29. The Popliteal Artery lies in front of the
Popliteal Vein and immediately behind
the capsule of the Knee Joint
In the distal part of the
popliteal fossa the
Popliteal Artery divides into
its two terminal branches
•Anterior Tibial Artery
•Posterior Tibial Artery

30. Summary of Muscles

31. Semimembranosus
Origin Superior lateral quadrant of
posterior surface ischial tuberosity
Insertion Posterior surface of the medial
tibial condyle. Sends fascial
extension over popliteus, and gives
rise to oblique popliteal ligament
Action Extends hip, flexes and medially
rotates the knee
Nerve Supply Tibial component of sciatic nerve
(L5, S1)
Blood Supply Perforating branches of profunda
femoris artery, inferior gluteal
artery, and the superior muscular
branches of popliteal artery
Posterior thigh

32. Semitendinosus
Origin Superior medial quadrant,
posterior surface ischial tuberosity
Insertion Superior part, medial tibial shaft
Action Extends hip, flexes and medially
rotates knee
Nerve Supply Tibial component of sciatic nerve
(L5, S1)
Blood Supply Perforating branches of profunda
femoris artery, inferior gluteal
artery, superior muscular branches
of popliteal artery
Posterior thigh

33. Posterior Thigh
Biceps Femoris
Origin Long Head: Superior medial quadrant
of the posterior surface of the ischial
tuberosity
Short Head: Middle third linea aspera,
lateral supracondylar ridge of femur
Insertion Fibular head, with extensions to lateral
collateral ligament and lateral tibial
condyle
Action Flexes the knee, rotates tibia laterally,
extends the hip joint
Nerve Supply Long head: tibial component of sciatic
nerve, Short head: common peroneal
component of sciatic nerve (L5, S1)
Blood Supply Perforating branches of profunda
femoris artery, inferior gluteal artery,
superior muscular branches of
popliteal artery

34. Gastrocnemius
Origin Medial head: posterior surface of
medial femoral condyle
Lateral head: posterior surface of
lateral femoral condyle
Insertion The two heads unite and with
soleus form the Achilles tendon,
which inserts onto the posterior
and upper surface of calcaneum
Action Powerful plantar flexor of ankle
Nerve Supply Tibial nerve ( S1, S2)
Blood Supply Sural branches of the popliteal
artery
Posterior Leg