4. Popliteal Fossa + Posterior Leg Flashcards
What is the popliteal fossa?
The space posterior to the knee joint
What borders the popliteal fossa superomedialy?
Semimembranosus
What borders the popliteal fossa superolaterally?
Biceps femoris
What borders the popliteal fossa inferiorly?
Medial and lateral heads of gastrocnemius
What vein ends in the popliteal fossa by draining into the popliteal vein?
Small saphenous vein
What are the contents of the neurovascular bundle that lies in the popliteal fossa from superficial to deep?
Tibial nerve (branch of sciatic) Popliteal vein (continuation of the posterior tibial veins) Popliteal artery (continuation of femoral artery)
Where does the sciatic nerve commonly divide?
The superior apex of the popliteal fossa
What is the path of the common fibular nerve through the fossa?
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
What is the medial sural cutaneous nerve a branch of?
The tibial nerve
What is the lateral sural cutaneous nerve a branch of?
Common fibular nerve
How do the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves communicate with each other?
Via the sural communicating branch
What do the medial and lateral sural cutaneous nerves supply?
Skin and fascia on the posterolateral aspect of the leg and foot
What nerves combine to form the sural nerve?
Medial sural cutaneous nerves + fibres from the communicating branch
What muscle lies deep to the lateral head of gastrocnemius in 90% of people?
Small plantaris muscle
What muscle lies deep to the small plantaris?
Popliteus muscle
List the superficial muscles of the posterior leg
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Plantaris
Popliteus
List the deep muscles of the posterior leg
Flexor hallicus longus (FHL) Flexor digitorum longus (FDL) Tibialis posterior (TP)
What nerve supplies the muscles of the posterior leg?
Tibial nerve
What is the function of the posterior leg muscles?
Flexion of the ankle and toes
List the tendons of the posterior leg from anterior to posterior
Tibialis posterior
flexor digitorum longus
flexor hallucis longus
Which lies most anteriorly the posterior tibial artery or the tibial nerve?
Posterior tibial artery
What tendon attaches the gastrocnemius and soleus to the calcaneus?
Achilles tendon
Where does the popliteal artery divide? What does it divide into?
Immediately distal to the popliteal fossa
Divides into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries
What is the fibular artery a branch of?
Posterior tibial artery
