THE INFERIOR EXTREMITY 



fossa. In its proximal part it is separated from the femur 



by some fatty tissue ; at 

 the level of the interval 

 between the condyles of 

 the femur it crosses the 

 oblique ligament of the 

 knee joint ; and, in the 

 distal part of the fossa, it 

 is in contact with the 

 fascia covering the pop- 

 liteus muscle. 



The popliteal vein lies in 

 a more superficial plane, 

 inferior lateral and crosses the artery. In 

 tery the proximal part of the 

 fossa it is placed upon the 

 lateral side of the artery, 

 whilst in the distal part 

 it is situated upon its 

 medial side. The two 

 vessels, however, are in 

 close association through- 

 out, and are bound together 

 by a dense fibrous sheath. 



The tibial nerve is super- 

 ficial to both vessels, and 

 crosses both from the lateral 

 to the medial side; in 

 the proximal part of the 



fossa it lies lateral to the vein, but in the distal part it lies 



on the medial side. Figs. 132, 133, 134. 

 The branches of the popliteal artery are : 



1. Muscular. 



2. Cutaneous. 



3. Genicular. 



The muscular branches consist of a proximal and a distal 

 set. The proximal branches are distributed to the hamstring 

 muscles near their insertions. The distal branches, termed 

 the sural arteries, end chiefly in the two heads of the 

 gastrocnemius ; but twigs go also to the soleus and plantaris. 



The cutaneous branch, called the superficial sural, frequently 



Adductor magnus 

 Popliteal vein 



Popliteal artery 



Superior medial 

 genicular artery 



Superior lateral 

 genicular artery 



Head of fibula 



Inferior medial 

 genicular artery 



Popliteus 



Soleus 



FIG. 137. Right Popliteal Artery and 

 its Branches. 



