Popliteal Fossa
Definition
Is a diamond shaped space behind the knee.
Situation
At the back of the knee joint
The boundaries are
Above : the semimembranous muscle and the semitendinosus muscle on the medial side and the tendon of the Biceps femoris muscle on the lateral side.
Below : it is occupied by the heads of thegastrocnemius muscle and the plantaris muscles
The roof
Fascia lata - strongly reinforced by transverse fibres. It is pierced by the small saphenous vein and the posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh.
The floor
Formed by the popliteal surface of the femur, the oblique popliteal ligament of the knee-joint, the upper end of the tibia, and the fascia covering the popliteus.
Contents
Popliteal vessels - the popliteal artery and the popliteal vein
The tibial and the common peroneal nerves
The termination of the small saphenous vein
A few small lymph nodes
A considerable quantity of fat.
The tibial nerve descends through the midle of the fossa
Applied Anatomy
In TAO (Thromboangitis Obliterans) the popliteal artery pulsation is palpated for
Baker's Cyst : a pouching out of the synovial membrane out of the joint presenting under the skin; filled with synovial fluid
