Popliteal Fossa

Question 1

Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa

Answer 1

1. Superomedially (Semitendinosus and Semimembranosus)
2. Superolaterally (Biceps femoris)
3. Inferolaterally (Lateral head gastrocnemius)
4. Inferomedially (medial head gastrocnemius)

Question 2

Popliteal fossa contents

Answer 2

Superficial to deep:
Nerves
Popliteal vein, lymph nodes and branches
Popliteal artery and branches

Question 3

Popliteal artery

Answer 3

Deepest structure in popliteal fossa
Continuation of femoral artery- becomes popliteal artery after passing through adductor hiatus
Runs close to knee joint capsule
Gives rise to genicular branches

Question 4

Genicular branches of Popliteal Artery

Answer 4

Participates in formation of genicular anastomosis
Supplies articular capsule and ligaments of knee joint
Important collateral circulation bypassing popliteal artery
-knee fully flexed too long
-narrow or occluded popliteal vessels

Question 5

Popliteal artery termination

Answer 5

1. Anterior tibial artery

2. Posterior tibial artery

Question 6

Popliteal vein

Answer 6

Formed by union of anterior and posterior tibial veins (near popliteus muscle
Small saphenous vein terminates into popliteal vein
Lies superficial to and in some fibrous sheath as popliteal artery
Becomes femoral vein after traversing adductor hiatus

Question 7

Tibial Nerve

Answer 7

Most superficial
Distribution:
Superficial and deep posterior leg muscles
Knee joint

Question 8

Common Fibular (Peroneal) Nerve

Answer 8

Leaves popliteal fossa by passing superficial to lateral head of gastrocnemius
Winds around head and neck of fibula (susceptible to injury)
Deep to fibulas longus it terminates into
1. Deep fibular nerve
2. superficial fibular nerve

Question 9

Sural Nerve

Answer 9

Cutaneous
composed of medial rural cutaneous nerve from tibial nerve and rural communicating branch from the common fibular nerve or lateral rural cutaneous nerve
Runs inferiorly with small saphenous vein
Supplies distal posterior aspect of leg and lateral aspect of ankle and foot