The Popliteal Fossa Flashcards
Location of the popliteal fossa
Posterior portion of the knee
Popliteal fossa shape
The popliteal fossa is diamond shaped
Popliteal fossa function
It is the main path by which vessels and nerves pass between the thigh and the leg
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
Roof of popliteal fossa
Skin and fascia
Floor of popliteal fossa
Popliteal surface of femur
Capsule of the knee joint capsule, Popliteal fascia over popliteus
Oblique popliteal ligament
Contents of popliteal fossa
Popliteal artery Popliteal vein Termination of small saphenous vein Tibial nerve Common fibular nerve (common peroneal nerve) Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
Most superior structures of popliteal fossa
The tibial and common peroneal nerve
The common fibular nerve follows the biceps femoris tendon, travelling along the medial margin of the popliteal fossa. True or false?
False. It travels along the lateral margin
What is the deepest structure of the popliteal fossa?
The popliteal artery
Branches of popliteal artery
Superior lateral genicular artery Superior medial genicular artery Middle genicular artery Inferior lateral genicular artery Inferior medial genicular artery
The popliteal vein is formed at…
…the distal border of the popliteus by the union of the anterior and posterior tibial veins
The popliteal vein terminates at the adductor hiatus, true or false?
True
What is the most superficial of the neurovascular bundles in the popliteal fossa?
The tibial nerve
The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh supplies…
… the skin that lies over the popliteal fossa
