Popliteal Fossa Flashcards
Borders of popliteal fossa
Superomedial border - semimembranosus
Superolateral border – biceps femoris.
Inferomedial border – medial head of the gastrocnemius.
Inferolateral border – lateral head of the gastrocnemius and plantaris.
Floor of popliteal fossa
- Posterior surface of the knee joint capsule
- Popliteus muscle
- Posterior femur
The roof of the popliteal fossa
popliteal fascia and skin
The popliteal fascia is continuous with…
… fascia lata of the leg.
Popliteal fossa function
The popliteal fossa is the main conduit for neurovascular structures entering and leaving the leg.
Contents of popliteal fossa (medial to lateral):
Popliteal artery
Popliteal vein
Tibial nerve
Common fibular nerve (common peroneal nerve)
The most superficial of the contents of the popliteal fossa…
The tibial and common fibular nerves
The tibial and common fibular nerves are branches of…
…the sciatic nerve
In the popliteal fossa, the common fibular nerve follows…
The biceps femoris tendon, travelling along the lateral margin of the popliteal fossa.
Which vein drains into the popliteal vein?
The small saphenous vein pierces the popliteal fascia and passes between the two heads of gastrocnemius to empty into the popliteal vein.
In the popliteal fossa, the deepest structure is…
… the popliteal artery
Which artery carries on blood supply from the femoral artery of the thigh to the leg?
Popliteal artery
Possible causes of swelling in the popliteal fossa
Baker’s Cyst
Aneurysm of popliteal artery
