| 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.
Contents |
The boundaries of the fossa are:[1]
| 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 |
The roof is formed by (from superficial to deep):[1]
The floor is formed by:[1]
Structures within the popliteal fossa include, (from superficial to deep):[1]
It is of note that the common fibular nerve also begins at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa.
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