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Popliteal fossa
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The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located posterior to the knee joint. Important nerves and vessels pass from the thigh to the leg by traversing through this fossa. These include the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve, the popliteal vessels and short saphenous vein. Several muscles of the thigh and leg form the boundaries of the popliteal fossa. They include the semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and popliteus muscles.
This article will discuss the anatomy and the contents of the popliteal fossa, followed by any relevant clinical pathology.
| Borders |
Superomedial: semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles Lateral: biceps femoris muscle Inferior: gastrocnemius muscle Floor: knee joint capsule, distal femur, proximal tibia, popliteus muscle Roof: popliteal fascia |
| Contents |
Nerves: tibial, common fibular, sural, posterior femoral cutaneous Vessels: popliteal artery and vein, short saphenous vein Lymph nodes: superficial and deep popliteal lymph nodes |
| Mnemonic | Serve And Volley Next Ball (stands for Semimembranosus/Semitendinosus, Artery, Vein, Nerve, Biceps femoris) |
Boundaries
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The superomedial aspect of the popliteal fossa is bounded by the semimembranosus and the semitendinosus muscles, whilst the biceps femoris forms the lateral border of the superior fossa. Inferiorly, the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius form the medial and lateral borders. The capsule of the knee joint, the distal femur and the proximal tibia form the floor of the popliteal fossa. More inferiorly, the popliteus muscle also forms the floor.
The popliteal fascia, which is continuous with the fascia lata superiorly and the fascia crusis inferiorly, forms the roof of the fossa. This dense fascia is reinforced by transverse fibres and forms a protective sheath for the structures passing through the fossa. The short saphenous vein and the sural nerve often pierce the fascia and are both important landmarks in surgery involving the posterior aspect of the knee joint.
Have you thought about learning the anatomy of the popliteal fossa using 3D anatomy? Think again!
Nerves
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The popliteal fossa is 2.5 cm wide and mainly consists of fat tissue. There are many important neurovascular structures, however, which pass through the fossa. The nerves are the most superficial of these structures and include:
Tibial nerve
The sciatic nerve bifurcates into the tibial and common fibular nerves at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa. The larger medial branch, the tibial nerve, passes through the fossa inferiorly, before it exits deep to the plantaris muscle and enters the posterior compartment of the leg. While in the fossa, the tibial nerve and its branches supply the soleus, gastrocnemius, plantaris and popliteus muscles. One of its branches, the medial sural cutaneous nerve, joins with the sural communicating branch of the common fibular nerve to form the sural nerve.
Common fibular nerve
The other branch of the sciatic nerve, the common fibular nerve, traverses the fossa close to the medial border of the biceps femoris muscle before it exits the fossa superficial to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. It then crosses the posterior aspect of the head of the fibula before it winds around the neck of the fibula and divides into its terminal branches.
Blood vessels
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Blood vessels are located deep to the nerves within the fossa and include the popliteal artery, the popliteal vein and the short saphenous vein. The short saphenous vein is located within the popliteal fascia and the popliteal vessels are held together by dense areolar tissue.
Popliteal artery
The popliteal artery, a branch of the femoral artery, enters the popliteal fossa by passing under the semimembranosus muscle. It travels through the fossa inferolaterally before entering the posterior compartment of the leg. The popliteal artery branches off to form five genicular arteries, which supply the ligaments and capsule of the knee joint. These arteries include:
- Superior medial genicular artery
- Superior lateral genicular artery
- Middle genicular artery
- Inferior medial genicular artery
- Inferior lateral genicular
These arteries anastomose to form the genicular anastomosis, a collateral circulation surrounding the knee joint. The popliteal artery also gives off muscular branches, which supply the soleus, gastrocnemius, plantaris and hamstring muscles.
Popliteal vein
The popliteal vein, a continuation of the posterior tibial vein, lies superficial to the popliteal artery within the same fibrous sheath. After it exits the fossa superiorly, it becomes the femoral vein as it passes through the adductor hiatus.
Short saphenous vein
The short saphenous vein travels superiorly in the posterior aspect of the leg from the lateral part of the dorsal venous arch, before entering the popliteal fossa. It travels within the popliteal fascia before penetrating it and anastomosing with the popliteal vein.
For more information about the borders and contents of the popliteal fossa, take a look below:
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Lymph nodes
Superficial
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There are two main groups of lymph nodes located within the popliteal fossa: the superficial popliteal and the deep popliteal.
The superficial popliteal lymph nodes lie within the subcutaneous tissue and receive lymph from the lymphatic vessels accompanying the short saphenous vein.
Deep
The deep popliteal lymph nodes surround the popliteal vessels and receive lymph from the superficial popliteal lymph nodes as well as from the leg and the foot. The lymph from these nodes then drains into the deep inguinal lymph nodes.
Mnemonic
To remember the order of structures in the popliteal fossa (from medial to lateral) you can use the following mnemonic; Serve And Volley Next Ball.
- Semimembranosus/Semitendinosus
- Artery
- Vein
- Nerve
-
Biceps femoris
Clinical notes
Popliteal pulse
Palpation of the popliteal pulse is usually performed with the knee flexed in order to relax the hamstrings and popliteal fascia. The pulse is best felt in the inferior part of the fossa but may be difficult to find because of the deep location of the popliteal artery. A loss of the popliteal pulse can indicate femoral artery obstruction.
Popliteal abscesses
An abscess, or tumour, located within the popliteal fossa usually results in severe pain due to the strength and resistance of the popliteal fascia. Because of this, popliteal abscesses usually spread superiorly and inferiorly from the popliteal fossa.
Popliteal aneurysm
Pain in the popliteal fossa can also be due to a popliteal aneurysm, an abnormal dilation of the popliteal artery. This may produce a palpable pulsation, a thrill, or an abnormal arterial sound, a bruit. Popliteal aneurysms can compress surrounding nerves, resulting in referred pain to the medial aspect of the calf, ankle and foot.
Hemorrhage
Dislocations of the knee joint or fractures of the distal femur can cause haemorrhage from the popliteal artery. If prompt action is not taken, it can result in the loss of the leg and the foot. Any injuries to the popliteal artery or vein can result in an arteriovenous fistula, an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein.
Tibial nerve damage
Posterior dislocation of the knee joint or laceration to the popliteal fossa may damage the tibial nerve. Injury to this nerve results in paralysis of the leg flexors and the intrinsic muscles of the foot. Individuals with tibial nerve damage are unable to flex their toes or plantar flex their ankle and can lose sensation on the sole of their foot.
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