FOSSA POPLITEA 



243 



Adductor magnus 

 Popliteal vein 



Popliteal artery 



A. genu superior 

 medialis 



A. genu superior 

 lateralis 



A. genu inferior 

 lateralis 



Head of fibula 



A. genu inferior 

 medialis 



the plantaris, and finally at its termination it sinks under 

 cover of the proximal border of the soleus. Throughout its 

 whole course the popliteal artery rests upon the floor of the 

 fossa poplitea. In its upper part it is separated from the 

 femur by some fatty tissue ; 

 then it crosses the oblique 

 ligament of the knee-joint ; 

 and lastly it comes into con- 

 tact with the fascia covering 

 the popliteus muscle. 



The popliteal vein is 

 placed upon a more super- 

 ficial plane, and crosses the 

 artery. In the proximal 

 part of the fossa it is placed 

 upon the lateral side of the 

 artery, whereas 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 a short distance 

 lateral to the vein, but 

 in the distal part it lies on 

 the medial side. 



The branches of the popliteal artery are : 



1. Muscular. 



2. Cutaneous. 



3. Genicular. 



The muscular branches consist of an upper and a lower 

 set. The upper branches are distributed to the hamstring 

 muscles near their insertions. The lower branches, termed 

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

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



The cutaneous branch, called the superficial sural, usually 



Popliteus 



Soleus 



FIG. 90. Popliteal Artery and its 

 Branches. 



