POPLITEAL SPACE 



1187 



descends, as a rounded cord, to cross the neck of tlic lilmla and enter the jxToncus 

 longus. In tenotomy of the biceps, the knife sliould bu introduced between the 

 nerve and the tendon, and made to cut from within outwards, and thus away from 

 the nerve. On the inner side tlie tendons are thus arran^a-d: Nearest to the iniddle 

 of the poi)Uteal space is the long and more slender tendon of the semi-tendinosus; 

 next, the thicker tendon of the semi-mend)ranosus; this and the gracilis, which' 

 comes next, appear as one tendon, but by a little manipulation the finger can be 

 made to sink into the interval between the semi-mem branosus, with its thick 



Fig. 752. — SiDK Vikw of the Popliteai, Akteky. 

 (From a dissection in the lluiiterian Museum.) 



Ffinoral artery and vein 



BRA.\r/fES OF THE 

 lyTERSAL CUTA- 

 NEOUS NERVE 



Aponeurotic covering 

 of Hunter's canal 



Aiiaslomolica magna 

 artery 



LONG SAPHENOUS 

 NERVE 



Vertical fibres of the 

 adductor magnus 



Popliteal artery 



VaatuB internuB 

 Cut ed^e of fascia lata 



BRANCH OF SAPHE- 

 NOUS NERVE TO 

 PATELLAR PLEXUS 



SMALL SCIATIC 

 NERVE 



Adductor magnus 



Internal snjihenous vein 



Part of Bemi- 

 tendinoaut) 



X 



\ 



rounded border externally and the gracilis inli rnally. The sartorius can easily be 

 thrown into relief on the inner side of the joint by telling the i)atient to cross one 

 leg. 



Popliteal vessels. — The artery traverses this space from above downwards, 

 api)earing l)eneath the semi-meml)ranosus, a little to the inner side of the mi»ldle 

 line, and then ]>assing down in the centre of the space to the interA'al between the 

 gastrocnemii. Its course corresponds with a line drawn from the inner side of the 

 hamstrings to the centre of the lower part of the space. The artery bifurcates on tlie 

 level of a line corresponding to the tubercle of the tibia. It lies on the popliteal 

 surface of the femur, the posterior ligam<mt, and the ]>opliteus. It is the second 



