The popliteal fossa is a shallow depression

Fossa (anatomy)

In anatomical terminology, fossa has come to mean a depression or hollow, in general, in a bone. Other parts of the body may be involved, for example, the antecubital fossa...

 located at the back of the knee

Knee

The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...

 joint

Joint

A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact. They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally.-Classification:...

. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur

Femur

The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...

 and the tibia

Tibia

The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....

.

Boundaries

The boundaries of the fossa are:

	Medial	Lateral
Superior	superior and medial: the semitendinosus muscle Semitendinosus muscle The semitendinosus is a muscle in the back of the thigh; it is one of the hamstrings.-Structure:The semitendinosus, remarkable for the great length of its tendon of insertion, is situated at the posterior and medial aspect of the thigh ....  and semimembranosus muscle Semimembranosus muscle The semimembranosus is a muscle in the back of the thigh. It is the most medial of the three hamstring muscles.-Structure:The semimembranosus, so called from its membranous tendon of origin, is situated at the back and medial side of the thigh....	superior and lateral: the biceps femoris muscle Biceps femoris muscle The biceps femoris is a muscle of the posterior thigh. As its name implies, it has two parts, one of which forms part of the hamstrings muscle group.-Origin and insertion:It has two heads of origin;...
Inferior	inferior and medial: the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle Gastrocnemius muscle In humans, the gastrocnemius muscle is a very powerful superficial pennate muscle that is in the back part of the lower leg. It runs from its two heads just above the knee to the heel, and is involved in standing, walking, running and jumping. Along with the soleus muscle it forms the calf muscle...	inferior and lateral: the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and plantaris muscle Plantaris muscle Plantaris is a vestigial structure and one of the superficial muscles of the posterior crural compartment of the leg.It is innervated by the tibial nerve ....

Roof

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

1. skin
2. superficial fascia
   Superficial fascia
   Superficial fascia is found in the subcutis in most regions of the body, blending with the reticular layer of the dermis. It is present on the face, over the upper portion of the sternocleidomastoid, at the nape of the neck, and overlying the sternum. It is mainly loose areolar connective tissue...
   
   , which contains the small saphenous vein
   Small saphenous vein
   The small saphenous vein , is a relatively large vein of the superficial posterior leg.-Path:Its origin is where the dorsal vein from the fifth digit merges with the dorsal venous arch of the foot, which attaches to the great saphenous vein...
   
   , the terminal branch of the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
   Posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh
   The posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh provides innervation to the skin of the posterior surface of the thigh and leg, as well as to the skin of the perineum.-Structure:...
   
   , posterior division of the medial cutaneous nerve, lateral sural cutaneous nerve
   Lateral sural cutaneous nerve
   The lateral sural cutaneous nerve supplies the skin on the posterior and lateral surfaces of the leg. The lateral sural cutaneous nerve originates from the Common fibular nerve.One branch, the peroneal anastomotic The lateral sural cutaneous nerve (lateral cutaneous branch) supplies the skin on...
   
   , and medial sural cutaneous nerve
   Medial sural cutaneous nerve
   The medial sural cutaneous nerve originates from the tibial nerve of the sciatic, descends between the two heads of the Gastrocnemius, and, about the middle of the back of the leg, pierces the deep fascia, and unites with the anastomotic ramus of the common peroneal to form the sural 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
   Oblique popliteal ligament
   The oblique popliteal ligament is a broad, flat, fibrous band, formed of fasciculi separated from one another by apertures for the passage of vessels and nerves....
   
   
3. strong fascia covering the popliteus muscle
   Popliteus muscle
   The popliteus muscle in the leg is used to unlock the knee during walking/running by laterally rotating the femur on the tibia during a closed chain movement ....
   
   

Contents

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

• tibial nerve
  Tibial nerve
  The tibial nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve passes through the popliteal fossa to pass below the arch of soleus.In the popliteal fossa the nerve gives off branches to gastrocnemius, popliteus, soleus and plantaris muscles, an articular branch to the knee joint, and a...
  
  
• popliteal vein
  Popliteal vein
  The popliteal vein course runs alongside the popliteal artery but carries the blood from the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf back to the heart.Its origin is defined by the junction of the posterior tibial vein and anterior tibial vein....
  
  
• popliteal artery
  Popliteal artery
  In human anatomy, the popliteal artery is defined as the extension of the "superficial" femoral artery after passing through the adductor canal and adductor hiatus above the knee...
  
  , a continuation of the femoral artery
  Femoral artery
  The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
  
  

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

External links

• Diagram at nus.edu.sg