Popliteal Fossa Flashcards
What is the popliteal fossa?
The popliteal fossa is a diamond shaped area found on the posterior side of the knee. It is the main path in which structures move from the thigh to the leg.
What are the borders of the popliteal fossa?
The popliteal fossa is diamond shaped, with four borders. These borders are formed by the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg and thigh:
Superiomedial border: Semimembranosus.
Superiolateral border: Biceps femoris.
Inferiomedial border: Medial head of the gastrocnemius.
Inferiolateral border: Lateral head of the gastrocnemius and plantaris.
The popliteal fossa also has a floor and a roof. The floor of the popliteal fossa is formed by the posterior surface of the knee joint capsule, and by the posterior surface of the femur. The roof is made of up two layers; popliteal fascia and skin. The popliteal fascia is continuous with the fascia lata of the leg.
What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?
The popliteal fossa is the main conduit for neurovascular structures entering and leaving the leg.
Its contents are (medial to lateral):
Popliteal artery
Popliteal vein
Tibial nerve
Common fibular nerve
The tibial and common fibular nerves are the most superficial of the contents of the popliteal fossa. They are both branches of the sciatic nerve. The common fibular nerve follows the biceps femoris tendon, running along the lateral margin of the popliteal fossa.
The small saphenous vein pierces the popliteal fascia of the popliteal fossa to enter the diamond, and empty into the popliteal vein.
In the popliteal fossa, the deepest structure is the popliteal artery. It is a continuation of the femoral artery, and travels into the leg to supply it with blood.
