CHAPTER XXXIV. 

 THE POPLITEAL SPACE. 



DESCRIPTION. BURSITIS. 



RELATIONS OF CONTENTS. ANEURISM, 



LANDMARKS. OPERATIONS. 



Description. This space is bounded, above, by the 

 divergence of the outer and inner ha'mstring muscles, viz., 

 the biceps on the outer side, and the semi-membranosus, 

 semi-tendinosus, gracilis and sartorius on the inner side. 

 It is bounded, below, on the outer and inner sides by the 

 outer and inner heads of the gastrocnemius respectively. 

 The floor is formed by the lower part of the posterior sur- 

 face of the femur, by the posterior ligament of the knee 

 joint, by the posterior surface of the upper end of the 

 tibia, and by the fascia covering the popliteus muscle ; 

 whereas the roof is formed by the deep fascia of the leg, the 

 superficial fascia and the integument, in which are found 

 cutaneous branches of the small sciatic nerve that supply 

 the superficial structures, and the external or short saphe- 

 nous vein that pierces the deep fascia at the lower angle of 

 the space to enter the popliteal vein. 



Relations of Contents of the Space. The inter- 

 nal popliteal nerve lies in the middle line of the space, im- 

 mediately beneath the 'deep fascia and continues, down- 

 wards, the line of the great sciatic nerve. Beneath the in- 

 ternal popliteal nerve is some areolar tissue which con- 

 tains a lymphatic gland ; next to this is the popliteal vein, 

 while, lying internal to the nerve and below and a little in- 

 ternal to the vein is the popliteal artery, with its articular 

 branches, and a lymphatic gland, on either side, embedded 

 in areolar tissue. Occasionally a gland is present, situ- 

 ated beneath the artery, between it and the 'bone, while 



