Posterior Thigh and Popliteal Fossa

Posterior Thigh and Popliteal Fossa

Anatomy of the Posterior Thigh and Popliteal Fossa

Bones

Femur

  • Head Head of Femur
  • Linea Aspera
  • Lateral Supra Condylar Line
  • Medial Supra Condylar Line Medial Supracondylar Line
  • Popliteal Surface Popliteal Surface
  • Medial Condyle Medial Condyle
  • Intercondylar Fossa Intercondylar Fossa
  • Lateral Condyle Lateral Condyle
  • Netter 489 Netter 489

Tibia & Fibula

  • Intercondylar Eminence Intercondylar Eminence
  • Medial Condyle Medial Condyle Tibia
  • Lateral Condyle Lateral Condyle Tibia
  • Apex Apex of Fibula
  • Head of Fibula Head of Fibula
  • Neck Neck of Fibula
  • Soleal Line Soleal Line
  1. Tibia: Transmits the body weight from the femur to the talus. Tibia Anatomy
  2. Fibula: Has no weight-bearing function. (Netter 513)

Knee Joint

Sagittal Section of Knee Joint

  • Femur
  • Knee Joint:
    • Quadriceps Femoris Tendon Quadriceps Femoris Tendon
    • 2 femorotibial articulations Femorotibial Articulations
    • 1 femoropatellar articulation Femoropatellar Articulation
  • Suprapatellar Bursa Suprapatellar Bursa
  • Patella Patella
  • Joint Capsule Joint Capsule
  • Synovial Membrane Synovial Membrane
  • Articular Cartilage Articular Cartilage
  • Infrapatellar Fat Pad Infrapatellar Fat Pad
  • Patellar Ligament Patellar Ligament
  • Fibula is not involved in the knee joint. Fibula in Knee Joint
  • Tibial Tuberosity Tibial Tuberosity

Knee Joint: Anterior View

  • Lateral Condyle of Femur Lateral Condyle of Femur Anterior View
  • Medial Condyle of Femur Medial Condyle of Femur Anterior View
  • Infrapatellar Infrapatellar
  • Lateral Meniscus Lateral Meniscus
  • Synovial Fold Synovial Fold
  • Medial Meniscus Medial Meniscus
  • Infrapatellar Pad of Fat Infrapatellar Pad of Fat
  • Patella Patella Anterior View
  • Suprapatellar Bursa: The superior extension of the joint cavity forms the suprapatellar bursa. Suprapatellar Bursa

Knee Joint (Posterior View): Extracapsular Ligaments

  • Attachment of Joint Capsule:
    • Attached to the medial femur = medial condyle of the femur. Joint Capsule Attachment
    • Among others, the tibial collateral and fibular collateral ligaments provide additional support. Tibial Collateral Ligament Fibular Collateral Ligament

Cruciate Ligaments and Menisci

Intra-articular Ligaments

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL): Limits the posterior rolling of the femoral condyles on the tibia during flexion. Anterior Cruciate Ligament
  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL): Limits the anterior rolling of the femur on the tibia during extension. Posterior Cruciate Ligament

Menisci

  • Medial Meniscus Medial Meniscus
  • Lateral Meniscus Lateral Meniscus

The menisci increase the articular surface area and act as a shock absorber. Menisci Function

Movements of the Knee Joint

The knee joint is a hinge type of synovial joint allowing flexion and extension. It is most stable when extended. Knee Joint Movements

  • Extension: By Quadriceps Femoris Quadriceps Femoris Extension
  • Flexion: By Hamstrings Hamstrings Flexion

Knee Joint Injuries

  • Unhappy Triad: Caused by the rupture of:

    1. Tibial collateral ligament Tibial Collateral Ligament Injury
    2. Medial meniscus
    3. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ACL Injury

  • ACL Rupture: Anterior drawer sign where the tibia slides anteriorly. Anterior Drawer Sign ACL Rupture

  • PCL Rupture: Posterior drawer sign where the tibia slides posteriorly. Posterior Drawer Sign PCL Rupture

Compartments of the Thigh

Posterior Compartment (Flexor)

  • Hamstring Muscles:
    • Biceps Femoris (Long Head) Biceps Femoris Long Head
    • Semitendinosus Semitendinosus
    • Semimembranosus Semimembranosus
  • Innervation: Tibial nerve Tibial Nerve
  • Popliteal Vessels Popliteal Vessels
  • Common Fibular Nerve Common Fibular Nerve

Arteries and Nerves of Thigh

  • Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Posterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve
  • Sciatic Nerve Sciatic Nerve
  • Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery
  • Perforating Arteries Perforating Arteries
  • Muscular Branches of Sciatic Nerve Muscular Branches of Sciatic Nerve
  • Tibial Nerve Tibial Nerve
  • Common Fibular Nerve Common Fibular Nerve

Popliteal Fossa

Contents of the Popliteal Fossa

Superficial to deep: - Tibial Nerve Tibial Nerve - Popliteal Vein Popliteal Vein - Popliteal Artery Popliteal Artery

Floor

  • The popliteal surface of the femur Popliteal Surface of Femur
  • Knee joint capsule Knee Joint Capsule
  • Popliteus muscle Popliteus Muscle

Arteries of Thigh & Knee

  • Femoral Artery Femoral Artery
  • Popliteal Artery
    • Superior Lateral Genicular Artery Superior Lateral Genicular Artery
    • Superior Medial Genicular Artery Superior Medial Genicular Artery
    • Inferior Lateral Genicular Artery Inferior Lateral Genicular Artery
    • Inferior Medial Genicular Artery Inferior Medial Genicular Artery
  • Anterior Tibial Artery Anterior Tibial Artery

Lymph Vessels & Nodes

  • Popliteal Vein Popliteal Vein
  • Popliteal Lymph Node Popliteal Lymph Node
  • Small Saphenous Vein Small Saphenous Vein