The popliteal fossa 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:
- Superior: semimembranosus (medial) and bicep femoris (lateral)
- Inferior: medial gastrocnemius (medial) and lateral gastrocnemius (lateral)
- Roof: superfical to deep:
- skin
- 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
- deep fascia or popliteal fascia
- Floor:
- the popliteal surface of the femur
- the capsule of the knee joint and the oblique popliteal ligament
- strong fascia covering the popliteus muscle
Contents: from superficial to deep
- tibial nerve
- popliteal vein
- popliteal artery, a continuation of the femoral artery
- small saphenous vein (termination)
- common fibular nerve (also known as the common peroneal nerve)
- Popliteal lymph nodes and vessels