4. Popliteal Fossa + Posterior Leg

Question 1

What is the popliteal fossa?

Answer 1

The space posterior to the knee joint

Question 2

What borders the popliteal fossa superomedialy?

Answer 2

Semimembranosus

Question 3

What borders the popliteal fossa superolaterally?

Answer 3

Biceps femoris

Question 4

What borders the popliteal fossa inferiorly?

Answer 4

Medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius

Question 5

What vein ends in the popliteal fossa by draining into the popliteal vein?

Answer 5

Small saphenous vein

Question 6

What are the contents of the neurovascular bundle that lies in the popliteal fossa from superficial to deep?

Answer 6

Tibial nerve (branch of sciatic)
Popliteal vein (continuation of the posterior tibial veins)
Popliteal artery (continuation of femoral artery)

Question 7

Where does the sciatic nerve commonly divide?

Answer 7

The superior apex of the popliteal fossa

Question 8

What is the path of the common fibular nerve through the fossa?

Answer 8

Skirts the lateral border, deep to biceps femoris tendon leaving the fossa between the tendon and the lateral head of gastrocnemius to reach the fibular neck

Question 9

What is the medial sural cutaneous nerve a branch of?

Answer 9

The tibial nerve

Question 10

What is the lateral sural cutaneous nerve a branch of?

Answer 10

Common fibular nerve

Question 11

How do the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves communicate with each other?

Answer 11

Via the sural communicating branch

Question 12

What do the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves supply?

Answer 12

Skin and fascia on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and foot

Question 13

What nerves combine to form the sural nerve?

Answer 13

Medial sural cutaneous nerves + fibres from the communicating branch

Question 14

What muscle lies deep to the lateral head of gastrocnemius in 90% of people?

Answer 14

Small plantaris muscle

Question 15

What muscle lies deep to the small plantaris?

Answer 15

Popliteus muscle

Question 16

List the superficial muscles of the posterior leg

Answer 16

Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Plantaris
Popliteus

Question 17

List the deep muscles of the posterior leg

Answer 17

Flexor hallicus longus (FHL)
Flexor digitorum longus (FDL)
Tibialis posterior (TP)

Question 18

What nerve supplies the muscles of the posterior leg?

Answer 18

Tibial nerve

Question 19

What is the function of the posterior leg muscles?

Answer 19

Flexion of the ankle and toes

Question 20

List the tendons of the posterior leg from anterior to posterior

Answer 20

Tibialis posterior
flexor digitorum longus
flexor hallucis longus

Question 21

Which lies most anteriorly the posterior tibial artery or the tibial nerve?

Answer 21

Posterior tibial artery

Question 22

What tendon attaches the gastrocnemius and soleus to the calcaneus?

Answer 22

Achilles tendon

Question 23

Where does the popliteal artery divide? What does it divide into?

Answer 23

Immediately distal to the popliteal fossa

Divides into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 24

What is the fibular artery a branch of?

Answer 24

Posterior tibial artery

Question 25

What does the anterior tibial artery supply?

Answer 25

The anterior compartment of the leg

Question 26

What does the posterior tibial artery supply?

Answer 26

Posterior compartment of the leg