The popliteal fossa (also referred to as hough or kneepit in analogy to the cubital fossa) is a shallow depression located at the back of the knee joint. The bones of the popliteal fossa are the femur and the tibia. Like other flexion surfaces of large joints (groin, armpit, cubital fossa and essentially the anterior part of the neck), it is an area where blood vessels and nerves pass relatively superficially, and with an increased number of lymph nodes.

Structure

Boundaries

The boundaries of the fossa are:

Roof

Moving from superficial to deep structures, the roof is formed by:

Floor

The floor is formed by:

Contents

Structures within the popliteal fossa include, (from superficial to deep): It is of note that the common fibular nerve also begins at the superior angle of the popliteal fossa.

Additional images