- Anatomy:
- origin:
- lateral condyle & posterior horn of lateral meniscus fibular head;
- popliteus muscle has 3 origins, strongest of which is from lateral femoral condyle, just anterior and inferior to the LCL origin;
- another origin is from fibula and from the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus;
- femoral and fibular origins form the arms of an oblique Y shaped ligament, the
arcuate ligament;
- popliteus evolution:
- fibula originally articulated with the femur with the popliteus tendon inserted on the fibular head;
- w/ subsequent distal migration of the fibular head, required that the popliteus tendon
achieve a femoral attachment while keeping the original fibular head insertion;
- insertion:
- posterior surface of tibia above soleal or popliteal line;
- popliteus muscle arises from the proximal 10 to 12 cm of the tibia
- popliteus tendon runs deep to
LCL and passes thru a hiatus in the coronary ligament to attach to the femur at a point anterior and distal
to the femoral attachment of LCL;
-
nerve supply: tibia,
L4,
L5,
S1; (see
innervation)
-
action:
- unique w/ a reversal of its origin and insertion w/ proximal attachment (origin) is its tendinous portion while its muscle belly sits distally;
- its primary f(x) is internal rotation of knee, unlocking of knee being accomplished by virtue of contourof articulation & retracting of posterior aspect of lateral meniscus;
- rotates the tibia medially on the femur & femur laterally on the tibia, depending on the one fixed;
- in a minority of pts, it withdraws the meniscus during flexion, and provides rotatory stability to the femur on the tibia;
- helps to brings the knee out of the position of full extension;
- helps with posterior stability of the knee in preventing posterior translation of the tibia on the femur;
- prevents excessive external rotation of the tibia during knee flexion from 20 - 130 deg,
- resists excessive varus rotation of the tibia during flexion from 0 - 90 deg;
- Popliteus Tendonitis: (see
running injuries)
- popliteus tendon courses from the proximal tibia to the distal femur, passing beneath the fibular collateral ligament;
- popliteus tendinitis is most easily detected with the leg in a figure of four (cross legged) position and then palpating just posterior and just anterior to the LCL ligament;
The popliteus tendon
Popliteus tendon rupture. Case report and review of the literature.
The popliteus muscle.
Popliteus tendon tenosynovitis. GW Mayfield. Am. J. Sports Med. Vol 5. 1977. p 31-36.
Avulsion of the popliteus tendon: A rare cause of chondral fracture and hemarthrosis. Nauer L, Ahlberg JR: Am J Sports Med 1985;13:423-425.
The popliteus tendon and its fascicles at the popliteal hiatus: gross anatomy and functional arthroscopic evaluation with and without ACL deficiency.
HU Staubli and S. Birrer. Arthroscopy. Vol 6. 1990. p 209-220.
Arthroscopic Evaluation of the Popliteus: Clues to Posterolateral Laxity
