Popliteal fossa

Question 1

What makes the superiomedial border of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 1

-Sememembranosus

Question 2

What makes the superiolateral border of the popliiteal fossa?

Answer 2

-Biceps femoris

Question 3

What makes the inferiomedial border of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 3

-Medial head of gastronemuis

Question 4

What makes the inferiolateral border of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 4

-Lateral head of gastronemius and plantaris

Question 5

What is the popliteal fossa?

Answer 5

• Diamond shaped shallow depression at the posterior knee

- Main way neurovascular structures enter the leg

Question 6

What makes the roof of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 6

-Popliteal fascia

Question 7

What makes the floor of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 7

-Posterior surface of joint capsule

Question 8

What are the contents of the popliteal fossa, from lateral to medial?

Answer 8

• Common fibular nerve
• Tibial nerve
• Popliteal vein
• Popliteal artery

Question 9

What are the most superficial contents of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 9

-Common fibular and tibial nerve

Question 10

Common fibular and tbial nerve are branches of the….

Answer 10

…sciatic nerve

Question 11

Where specifically can the common fibular nerve be found?

Answer 11

-Lateral margin following biceps femoris tendon

Question 12

What vein pierces the popliteal fossa and drains into the popliteal vein?

Answer 12

-Small saphenous vein

Question 13

What is the deepest structure in the popliteal fossa?

Answer 13

-Popliteal artery

Question 14

Where does the popliteal artery arise from?

Answer 14

-Continuation of femoral artery

Question 15

What does the popliteal artery branch into?

Answer 15

• Circumflex fibular artery

- Anterior and posterior tibial arteries

Question 16

What are the main two causes of a mass in the popliteal fossa?

Answer 16

• Baker’s cyst

- Popliteal aneurysm

Question 17

What is a baker’s cyst?

Answer 17

-Inflammation and swelling of the semimembranosus bursa

Question 18

What do baker’s cysts usually arise in conjunction with?

Answer 18

-Arthritis

Question 19

What are the usual outcomes of a baker’s cyst?

Answer 19

• Usually self resolves

- Can rupture and produce symptoms similar to DVT

Question 20

What is a popliteal aneurysm?

Answer 20

-Abnormal dilation of the artery which is greater than 50% of the normal diameter

Question 21

Why do the other structures in the popliteal fossa become compressed in a popliteal aneurysm?

Answer 21

-The popliteal fascia which makes the roof is tough and non-extensible

Question 22

What is the most susceptible to compression by a popliteal aneurysm?

Answer 22

-Tibial nerve

Question 23

How does damage to the tibial nerve present?

Answer 23

-Led anasthesia or loss of leg motor function

Question 24

How are popliteal aneurysms detected?

Answer 24

-Obvious palpable pulsation in the popliteal fossa with abnormal arterial sounds

Question 25

Besides popliteal cysts and aneurysms, what are rarer causes of popliteal masses?

Answer 25

• DVT
• Adnentitial cyst of the popliteal artery
• Various neoplasms (eg rhabdomyosarcoma)