Popliteal fossa

Popliteal fossa
Lateral aspect of right leg
Lymph glands of popliteal fossa
Latin	Fossa poplitea
Gray's	subject #158 631

The popliteal fossa (sometimes referred to colloquially as the knee pit) is a shallow depression located at the back of the knee joint. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur and the tibia.

Boundaries

The boundaries of the fossa are:

	Medial	Lateral
Superior	superior and medial: the semitendinosus muscle and semimembranosus muscle	superior and lateral: the biceps femoris muscle
Inferior	inferior and medial: the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle	inferior and lateral: the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and plantaris muscle

Roof

The roof is formed by (from superficial to deep):

1. skin
2. superficial fascia, which contains the small saphenous vein, the terminal branch of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh, posterior division of the medial cutaneous nerve, lateral sural cutaneous nerve, and medial sural cutaneous nerve
3. deep fascia or popliteal fascia

Floor

The floor is formed by:

1. the popliteal surface of the femur
2. the capsule of the knee joint and the oblique popliteal ligament
3. strong fascia covering the popliteus muscle

Contents

Structures within the popliteal fossa include, (from superficial to deep):

• tibial nerve
• popliteal vein
• popliteal artery, a continuation of the femoral artery

It is of note that the common fibular nerve also begins at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa.

Additional images

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

See also

• Hamstring

External links

• postthigh at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (poplitealfossabones, poplitealfossacontents, poplitealfossafloor)
• Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 2747 9