Popliteal fossa

Popliteal fossa
Lateral aspect of right leg.
Latin	fossa poplitea
Gray's	subject #158 631
Dorlands/Elsevier	f_14/12376523

The popliteal fossa is a space or shallow depression located at the back of the knee-joint. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur and the tibia. Colloquially, it is referred to as a "knee pit."

Contents 1 Boundaries 2 Contents 3 See also 4 Additional images 5 External links

Boundaries

The boundaries of the fossa are:

superior and medial: the semitendinosus muscle (semimembranosus is medial to the semitendinosus.)	superior and lateral: the biceps femoris muscle
inferior and medial: the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle	inferior and lateral: the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle

Contents

The popliteal fossa houses:

• popliteal artery, which is a continuation of the femoral artery
• popliteal vein
• tibial nerve
• common peroneal nerve
• Six or seven popliteal lymph nodes are embedded in the fat

The roof contains a portion of the small saphenous vein and posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.

See also

• hamstring
• fossa

Additional images

Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.	Small saphenous vein and its tributaries.	Lymph glands of popliteal fossa.	The popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries.
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view.

External links

• Anatomy at Dartmouth knee/surface/surface4
• Norman/Georgetown postthigh (poplitealfossabones, poplitealfossacontents, poplitealfossafloor)
• Popliteal+fossa at eMedicine Dictionary
• Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 2747 9
• Diagram at nus.edu.sg

v • d • e General anatomy of lower limbs Buttocks Gluteal sulcus - Gluteal cleft Thigh Fascial compartments of thigh (Anterior, Medial, Posterior) Inguinal ligament • Pectineal ligament • Lacunar ligament • Reflected inguinal ligament • Conjoint tendon • Interfoveolar ligament Obturator membrane/Obturator canal Femoral triangle • Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) • Femoral ring Adductor canal • Adductor hiatus fascia/fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) Crus (anatomic leg) Popliteal fossa • Calf • Shin • Pes anserinus • Interosseous membrane of the leg Fascial compartments of leg (Anterior, Lateral, Posterior) fascia/crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) Foot Heel • Toe (Hallux, Fifth toe) • Sole • Achilles tendon • Tarsal tunnel fascia (Plantar fascia) retinacula (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)

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