what does popliteal fossa mean

The popliteal fossa

(sometimes 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.

Full Answer

What does fossa mean in anatomy and physiology?

In anatomy, a fossa (/ ˈ f ɒ s ə /; plural fossae (/ ˈ f ɒ s iː / or / ˈ f ɒ s aɪ /); from Latin fossa, "ditch" or "trench") is a depression or hollow, usually in a bone, such as the hypophyseal fossa (the depression in the sphenoid bone). Some examples include: In the Skull:. Cranial fossa. Anterior cranial fossa; Middle cranial fossa. Interpeduncular fossa; Posterior cranial fossa

What does fossa stand for?

Term Definition Options Rating What does fossa mean? pit, fossa (noun) a concavity in a surface (especially an anatomical depression) see more » Couldn't find the full form or full meaning of fossa? Maybe you were looking for one of these abbreviations: FOSM - FOSMI - FOSO - FOSP - FOSS - FOSSIL - FOSSILS - FOST - FOSTA - FOSTER

What to do for a popliteal cyst?

• Observation. Your doctor may recommend simply observing the cyst over time to ensure that it does not grow larger and cause painful symptoms.
• Activity modification. ...
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. ...
• Steroid injection. ...
• Aspiration. ...

What does infratemporal fossa mean?

The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity that is a part of the skull. It is situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch. It is not fully enclosed by bone in all directions. It contains superficial muscles, including the lower part of the temporalis muscle, the lateral pterygoid muscle, and the medial pterygoid muscle.

Why is the popliteal fossa important?

The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located posterior to the knee joint. Important nerves and vessels pass from the thigh to the leg by traversing through this fossa. These include the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve, the popliteal vessels and short saphenous vein.

What is another name for the popliteal fossa?

The popliteal fossa (sometimes 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.

Where is the popliteal located?

The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped space located posterior to the knee joint. It allows for the passage of critical neurovascular structures. These structures, from medial to lateral, are the popliteal artery, popliteal vein, tibial nerve, and common peroneal nerve.

What does the popliteal refer to?

Medical Definition of popliteal : of or relating to the back part of the leg behind the knee joint.

What causes pain in the popliteal fossa?

Popliteal fossa pain is developed by a wide variety of causes. The most common causes are Baker's cyst, soft tissue or bone tumor and injury to the meniscus, hamstring, popliteal tendon or ligament.

What causes swelling in the popliteal fossa?

A Baker's, or popliteal, cyst is a painful swelling that develops behind the knee. It is filled with fluid. It happens when inflammation and swelling affects the tissue behind the knee joint. It often results from gout or arthritis.

How do you treat popliteal fossa pain?

The treatment for popliteus tendinopathy includes rest, ice application, elevation, an elastic wrap, physical therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication for pain, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Additional treatment for popliteus tendinopathy may include oral corticosteroids or corticosteroid injections.

Is popliteal a vein or artery?

Popliteal fossa The popliteal vein is a deep vein that drains the leg. The sciatic nerve runs down the posterior surface of the leg, and its largest branch, the tibial nerve is the most superficial structure of the popliteal fossa, which is a diamond-shaped fossa that lies at the posterior surface of the knee.

What happens if the popliteal artery is blocked?

Long-term pressure on the popliteal artery can cause the artery to narrow (stenosis), causing pain and cramping with just slight activity, such as walking. In severe cases or when undiagnosed, the nerves and muscles in the leg can become damaged. Blood clots may occur in the lower leg (deep vein thrombosis).

What is the back of your knee called?

The shallow depression formed at the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa; it is formed at the junction of the femur and tibia. There is a muscle here on the floor of the popliteal fossa which is the deepest muscle of the knee joint.

What can be palpated at the popliteal fossa?

The posterior aspects of medial and lateral femoral condyles can be palpated just under the gastrocnemii, the insertion of which is more proximally on the condyles. The tibial nerve is located in the centre of the lozenge and divides it in two. The tibial vein and the tibial artery are located medial to it.

What are the contents of the popliteal fossa?

Contentstibial nerve.popliteal vein.popliteal artery, a continuation of the femoral artery.small saphenous vein (termination)common fibular nerve (also known as the common peroneal nerve)Popliteal lymph nodes and vessels.

How do you remember popliteal fossa?

You can use the mnemonic SAVNB (Serve And Volley Next Ball) to remember the popliteal fossa anatomy medial-to-lateral in arrangement. Semimembranosus, Artery, Vein, Nerve, Biceps femoris.

What is the back part of your knee called?

The shallow depression formed at the back of the knee is called the popliteal fossa; it is formed at the junction of the femur and tibia. There is a muscle here on the floor of the popliteal fossa which is the deepest muscle of the knee joint.

What is the another term for buttocks?

In this page you can discover 49 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for buttocks, like: gluteus-maximus, ass, derriere, butt, cheeks, rump, callipygous, bum, tooshie, buns and heinie.

What is popliteal quizlet?

Popliteal Fossa. -a diamond shaped depression located at the posterior aspect of the knee region.

Where is the popliteal fossa located?

The Popliteal Fossa. The popliteal fossa is a diamond shaped area located on the posterior aspect of the knee. It is the main path by which vessels and nerves pass between the thigh and the leg. In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the popliteal fossa – its borders, contents and clinical correlations.

Where are the borders of the popliteal fossa formed?

Fig 1 – The borders of the popliteal fossa are formed by the muscles of the thigh and leg.

What causes a popliteal cyst in the knee?

The two major causes are baker's cyst and aneurysm of the popliteal artery. Baker's Cyst. A Baker's cyst (popliteal cyst) refers to the inflammation and swelling of the semimembranosus bursa - a fluid filled sac found in the knee joint. It usually arises in conjunction with osteo arthritis of the knee.

What are the four borders of the popliteal fossa?

These borders are formed by the muscles in the posterior compartment of the leg and thigh: Superomedial border – semimembranosus. Supero lateral border – biceps femoris.

What is a popliteal cyst?

A Baker’s cyst (popliteal cyst) refers to the inflammation and swelling of the semimembranosus bursa – a fluid filled sac found in the knee joint. It usually arises in conjunction with osteoarthritis of the knee. Whilst it usually self-resolves, the cyst can rupture and produce symptoms similar to deep vein thrombosis.

Which nerve is particularly susceptible to compression from the popliteal artery?

The tibial nerve is particularly susceptible to compression from the popliteal artery. The major features of tibial nerve compression are:

Which structure is the deepest in the popliteal fossa?

In the popliteal fossa, the deepest structure is the popliteal artery. It is a continuation of the femoral artery, and travels into the leg to supply it with blood. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 2 – The contents of the popliteal fossa.

What is the fossa?

fossa. a trench or channel; in anatomy, a hollow or depressed area. amygdaloid fossa the depression in which the tonsil is lodged. cerebral fossa any of the depressions on the floor of the cranial cavity. condylar fossa ( condyloid fossa) either of two pits on the lateral portion of the occipital bone.

What is the iliac fossa?

iliac fossa a concave area occupying much of the inner surface of the ala of the ilium, especially anteriorly; from it arises the iliac muscle. incisive fossa a slight depression on the anterior surface of the maxilla above the incisor teeth.

What is the fossa of the cranial lobe?

coronoid fossa a depression in the humerus for the coronoid process of the ulna. cranial fossa any one of the three hollows (anterior, middle, and posterior) in the base of the cranium for the lobes of the brain.

What is the digastric fossa?

digastric fossa a depression on the inner surface of the mandible, giving attachment to the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. 1. one in the epigastric region. 2. urachal fossa. ethmoid fossa the groove in the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bones, for the olfactory bulb. glenoid fossa mandibular fossa.

Where is the temporal fossa?

temporal fossa an area on the side of the cranium bounded posteriorly and superiorly by the temporal lines, anteriorly by the frontal and zygomatic bones, and laterally by the zygomatic arch, lodging the temporal muscle.

Where is the fossa ova lis cor dis a fossa?

fossa ova´lis cor´dis a fossa in the right atrium of the heart; the remains of the fetal foramen ovale. fossa ova´lis fe´moris the depression in the fascia lata that is bridged by the cribriform fascia and perforated by the great saphenous vein.

Which depression is bridged by the cribriform fascia and perforated by the great saphenous vein?

fossa ova´lis fe´moristhe depression in the fascia lata that is bridged by the cribriform fascia and perforated by the great saphenous vein.

Where is the popliteal fossa located?

The Popliteal Fossa is a diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint. It is formed between the muscles in the posterior compartments of the thigh and leg. This anatomical landmark is the major route by which structures pass between the thigh and leg .

What is the content of the popliteal fossa?

Content. The major content of the Popliteal fossa are: The Popliteal Artery; This is the deepest of the neurovascular structures in the Popliteal fossa. It is a continuation of the Femoral artery and appears on the upper medial side under the margin of the Semimembranosus muscle.

What is the floor of the fossa?

The floor of the fossa is formed by the Popliteal surface of the Femur, the capsule of the Knee rein forced by the oblique Popliteal ligament and, the Popliteus muscle covered by its Fascia.

Which nerve is superficial to the popliteal fossa?

The Popliteal vein: It is superficial to the and travels with the Popliteal artery. The Tibia nerve and common Fibular nerve: These are the two major branches of the Sciatic nerve. They are the most superficial of the neurovascular structures in the Popliteal fossa.

Which tendon is superolateral?

The Biceps Femoris tendon (superolateral) and Semimembranosus reinforced by Semitendinosus (superomedial). The medial and lateral heads of Gastrocnemius form the inferomedial and inferolateral boundaries, respectively .

What is the popliteal fossa?

The popliteal fossa (plural: fossae ) is a diamond or rhomboid-shaped fat-filled space in the posterior knee. The space is extremely dynamic, allowing for its neurovascular contents to move during the extreme range of motion produced by knee flexion and extension.

Where is the popliteal vein located?

At all levels, the popliteal vein is found between the popliteal artery and the tibial nerve 2.

What is the superolateral border?

superolateral: medial border of biceps femoris muscle. superomedial: lateral border of s emimembranosus muscle (with the tendon of semitendinosus superficial to it) inferolateral: medial border of the lateral head of gastrocnemius. inferomedial: lateral border of the medial head of gastrocnemius.

What is the best treatment for popliteal cysts?

Your doctor may recommend a corticosteroid medication, such as cortisone. Your doctor will inject this drug into the joint, and the medication will flow back into the cyst. Though it may help relieve the pain, it doesn’t always prevent a popliteal cyst from recurring.

Why does my knee pop?

Sometimes the knee produces too much of this fluid. The increasing pressure forces the fluid to the back of the knee via a one-way valve, where it creates a bulge . This severe swelling of the knee causes a popliteal cyst to form.

What is the swelling in the back of the knee called?

A popliteal cyst , also known as a Baker’s cyst , is a fluid-filled swelling that causes a lump at the back of the knee, leading to tightness and restricted movement. The cyst can be painful when you bend or extend your knee.

Can a popliteal cyst be long term?

A pop liteal cyst won’t cause any long-term damage, but it can be uncomfortable and annoying. The symptoms may come and go. In most cases, the condition will improve over time or with surgery. Long-term disability due to a popliteal cyst is very rare.

Does a popliteal cyst go away on its own?

A popliteal cyst often doesn’t need treatment and will go away on its own. However, if the swelling becomes large and causes severe pain, your doctor may recommend one of the following treatments.

Where is the synovial fluid in the knee?

There are various pouches, called bursae, in each knee, through which the synovial fluid circulates. Between the popliteal bursa – a pouch at the back of the knee – and the knee joint, there is a valve-like system that regulates the flow of synovial fluid.

What is a Baker's cyst?

What is a Baker’s cyst. Most people with Baker’s cysts have an underlying illness. A Baker’s, or popliteal, cyst is a painful swelling that develops behind the knee. It is filled with fluid. It happens when inflammation and swelling affects the tissue behind the knee joint.

Description

• The Popliteal Fossa is a diamond-shaped space behind the knee joint. It is formed between the muscles in the posterior compartments of the thigh and leg. This anatomical landmark is the major route by which structures pass between the thigh and leg.

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Clinical Significance