The back of the thigh and popliteal fossa

Anatomy

Back of the Thigh

Dr Dalia Saleh

Objectives
 Bony features
 Muscles of the back of the thigh
 Sciatic nerve
 Popliteal fossa
 Boundaries
 Contents

Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

1. Ischial tuberosity
(upper lateral)

(lower medial)

(sitting area)
1
2
4. Ischial ramus 4
3


1. Linea aspera
2
2. Gluteal tuberosity.
tuberosity.

3. Medial supracondylar line 7
4. Adductor tubercle 6 5
1
5. Lateral epicondyle

6. Popliteal groove

7. Pit for lateral head of gastrocnemius 3
4

1. Back of the medial tibial condyle
(groove)
1 2
2. Styloid process.

3. Fibular head 3
4. Tibial tuberosity

5. Upper ¼ of medial surface of
4
tibia
5


Back of the Thigh
Content:
1. Hamstring
 Ischial head of adductor magnus
 Semitendinosus
 Semimembranosus
 Long head of biceps femoris
2. Short head of biceps femoris
3. Sciatic nerve
4. Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
5. Vessels


Ischial Head Adductor Magnus

 Origin:
 Ischial tuberosity and ischial ramus
 Insertion:
 Adductor tubercle of the femur
 Nerve supply:
 Ischial part  Sciatic nerve
 Action:
 Extends hip and flexes knee


Hamstring Muscles
1. Semimembranosus
2. Semitendinosus
3. Long head of biceps femoris
Origin: Ischial tuberosity.
Insertion: Upper end of fibula or tibia.
N.S: tibial division of sciatic nerve.
Action:
 Extend the thigh at hip joint.
 Flex and rotate the leg at knee joint.

Semimembranosus
Origin:
 By a flat tendon from the
upper & lateral part of
ischial tuberosity.
Insertion:
 By a rounded tendon into
the horizontal groove
behind medial condyle of
the tibia.


Semitendenosus
Origin:
 In common with long head
of biceps from the medial
part of ischial tuberosity.
tuberosity.
Insertion:
 By a cord like tendon into
the upper part of medial
surface of the tibia.


Biceps Femoris (Long Head)
Origin:
 In common tendon with semitendinosis
from the lower medial part of ischial
tuberosity.
tuberosity.


Biceps Femoris (Short Head)
Origin:
 Linea aspera.
 Lateral supracondylar line.
Insertion:
 Joins long head into the head of the fibula.


Boundaries
 Diamond shaped
 Upper lateral boundary:
 Biceps femoris
 Upper medial boundary:
 Semimembranosus
 Semitendinosus
 Two lower boundaries are the
heads of gastrocnemius


Roof
 Skin, superficial fascia
containing cutaneous nerves and
vessels
 Deep fascia

Floor
 Popliteal surface of the femur
 Capsule of the knee joint
 Fascia over the popliteus muscle

Popliteus Muscle
Origin:
 By a tendon from anterior end
of popliteal groove on lateral
femoral condyle.
 Its tendon passes under
lateral collateral ligament of
the knee


Popliteus Muscle
Insertion:
 Tendon passes within the knee
capsule under arcuate popliteal
ligament
 Into a triangular area on the
posterior surface of the tibia
above the soleal line.
 Knee capsule
 Lateral meniscus

Popliteus Muscle
N.S:
 Tibial nerve.
Action:
 Unlock the knee to start
flexion.
 Retraction of lateral
meniscus during flexion.


Contents
 Popliteal artery and its branches
 Popliteal vein and its tributaries
 Popliteal lympn nodes
 Tibial and common peroneal
nerves and their branches
 Fatty tissue


Popliteal Artery
Beginning:
 Continuation of femoral a. @
adductor magnus hiatus
Termination:
 Divide into anterior and posterior
tibial arteries @ lower border of
poplitus


Popliteal Artery
Course:
 It is the deepest of the structures
of the popliteal fossa
 Anterior relations = floor of the
fossa
Branches:
1. Superior, inferior, and middle
genicular arteries
2. Muscular branches (sural)


Popliteal Vein
Formation:
 Union of the venae comitantes of
the anterior and posterior tibial
arteries near the lower border of
the popliteus muscle
Termination:
 Pass through adductor magnus
hiatus into adductor canal and
continues as femoral vein


Popliteal Vein
Course:
 Along its course, lies between
popliteal artery and tibial nerve
Tributaries:
1. Veins that accompany the branches
of the artery
2. Small saphenous vein


Small Saphenous Vein
Formation:
 From the lateral side of dorsal venous
arch of foot
Course:
 Ascends behind lateral malleolus
 Then upward in the calf
 Drains the lateral side of the foot and
ankle and the back of the leg.
Termination:
 Pierces the deep fascia and drains into
the popliteal vein


Popliteal Lymph Nodes
 Few nodes just under the deep
fascia
 Embedded in the fatty connective
tissue of popliteal fossa, close to
the popliteal vessels
 Drain the deep tissues of the leg,
foot and knee joint
 Efferents to the deep inguinal LN


Sciatic Nerve
 Leaves gluteal region to back of thigh
midway between the greater trochanter
and ischial tuberosity.
 Lying deep to long head of biceps femoris
 Usually divides into tibial and common
peroneal nerves just above popliteal fossa
 Innervates muscles of the back of the
thigh
 Has articular branches to hip and knee


Tibial Nerve
 Passes vertically in the fossa
 Leaves between the 2 heads of
gastrocnemius
 Gives:
 Muscular  to muscles arising
from the popliteal fossa
 Articular  3 genicular nerves
 Cutaneous  sural nerve


Common Peroneal Nerve
 Passes medial to biceps femoris
 Disappears into peroneus longus
 Lie on neck of fibula
 Gives:
 Muscular  NONE in the fossa
 Articular  3 genicular nerves
 Cutaneous  sural communicating
nerve and lateral cutaneous
nerve of the calf


The back of the thigh and popliteal fossa

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