Click on the structure to specify the target of your label
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
01 |  |
Popliteus
Other Terms:
M.popliteus,
Popliteal muscle,
Musculus popliteus,
Muscle poplité
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus popliteus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Crural muscle – posterior compartment – deep group
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the muscle of the ham of the knee. The word popliteus comes from the Latin poples meaning “the ham of the knee.” This refers to the hollow part of the knee behind the knee joint.
Origin
Popliteal groove on the lateral surface of the lateral condyle of the femur, the lateral side of the lateral meniscus, and the arcuate popliteal ligament of the joint capsule of the knee.
Insertion
Triangular posterior surface of the tibia above the soleal line.
Action
Medially rotates tibia on the femur; unlocks the hyperextended knee, retracts the lateral meniscus to prevent it from getting crushed during knee flexion; reduces the load on the posterior cruciate ligament to help prevent anterior dislocation of the femur.
Nerve supply
Tibial nerve (L4, L5, and S1)
Blood supply
The muscle is supplied by direct muscular branches and the sural branches of the popliteal artery, the medial and lateral inferior genicular arteries, and the posterior tibial recurrent artery.
Latin
Musculus popliteus
French
Muscle poplité
