what is the function of the popliteal

The Anatomy of the Popliteal Vein

• Anatomy. The popliteal vein is a deep vein of the lower leg. ...
• Function. The function of the popliteal vein is to drain deoxygenated blood from the lower leg and bring it back to the heart for oxygenation.
• Clinical Significance. ...

Full Answer

What is the function of the popliteal muscle?

The Popliteal muscle has a very important role to play in the initial stages of knee flexion by laterally rotating the femur on the tibia to unlock the knee when the foot is on the floor e.g. standing.

What does the popliteal artery supply?

Popliteal Artery. It is a continuation of the femoral artery, travels across the popliteal fossa, and finally bifurcates into the anterior and posterior tibial ends. Across it journey it gives off numerous branches that supply several structures such as the knee joint and its components, together with major muscles of the leg.

What is the popliteus?

The Popliteus is a small, thin, flat, triangular shaped musclotendinous complex of the lower leg with the popliteus muscle and the popliteofibular ligament and constitutes a part of the posterolateral corner of the knee.. It is a deep muscle of the knee joint, forming the floor of the popliteus fossa.

How does the popliteus lock the knee?

To 'unlock' the knee, the popliteus muscle needs to contract, causing flexion and lateral rotation of the femur on the tibia, thereby giving the muscle the term - 'key' to the locked knee. During knee flexion, the popliteus muscle retracts the lateral meniscus posteriorly to avoid being entrapped between the femur and tibia.

Which muscle is the popliteal vein?

Specifically, the popliteal vein provides venous return for the gastrocnemius muscle. 6 The gastrocnemius is the large, two-headed muscle on your calf that helps you move your leg back as you walk. Blood is returned to the heart through a series of veno-muscular pumps.

Where does blood flow to the popliteal vein?

Blood flows into the popliteal vein from multiple tributaries in the lower leg, including the: 3. The popliteal vein itself originates where the anterior and posterior tibial veins join together, at the back of the knee. From there, the popliteal vein runs through the popliteal fossa.

What is the name of the muscle that the popliteal vein travels through?

As the popliteal vein travels up, it passes through the adductor hiatus, which is a gap in the adductor magnus muscle at the inner thigh. 4 At this point, it is renamed the femoral vein. The femoral vein turns into the external iliac vein, which drains into the common iliac vein before returning to the heart.

Why does my popliteal vein get compressed?

In rare cases, the popliteal vein may become compressed due to a muscular anomaly, popliteal artery aneurysm, enlarged gastrocnemius (calf muscle) in athletes, or other reasons. This can result in lower leg edema (swelling) and even a secondary DVT. 1

How many cases of duplication of the popliteal vein?

Duplication: The popliteal vein is duplicated completely in 7.8% of cases. Incomplete duplication is seen as the popliteal vein splits into two (15.6%) or three (3.1%) tributaries as it travels through the popliteal fossa. 2 A study of CT venography found one side is typically dominant (has a higher blood flow) in cases of duplication or splitting. 5

What is the diameter of a popliteal vein?

The popliteal vein is a deep vein of the lower leg. A normal popliteal vein has a diameter of 5 to 13 millimeters (mm), with males tending to have larger diameters and females smaller diameters. 2.

How many lower limbs have popliteal veins?

A 2012 study of 64 lower limb cadavers found anatomical variations of the popliteal vein were present in 31.3% of limbs. 2 This result is consistent with other research.

Where is the popliteal artery located?

The popliteal artery branches off from the femoral artery. It is located in the knee and the back of the leg. Its courses near the adductor canal and the adductor hiatus, distinctive open areas inside the thigh. At its far end, it splits into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.

What is the name of the artery that splits into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries?

At its far end, it splits into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. During its course, the popliteal artery branches into other significant blood vessels. These include the sural artery and the various types of genicular arteries.

Is the popliteal vein the same as the artery?

As the primary distributor of oxygenated blood to regions around the knee, the artery is not the same as the popliteal vein. The two blood vessels run a similar course in close proximity. Yet, the vein drains deoxygenated blood and moves it up the leg, to the femoral vein. Ultimately, all deoxygenated blood ends up at the lungs and the heart, before it is recirculated into the arterial system.

What is the role of the popliteus muscle in the knee?

However, the popliteus muscle plays an important role in initiating flexion of the fully extended (“locked”) knee. Thus, the popliteus is referred to as “the key to unlock the knee”, making it essential for the processes of walking, standing up, and sitting down.

What is the popliteus muscle?

The popliteus muscle is a small muscle that forms the floor of the popliteal fossa. It belongs to the deep posterior leg muscles, along with tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus and flexor hallucis longus.

What is the replacement of the popliteus tendon?

Upon passing underneath the arcuate ligament, the popliteus tendon is replaced by the fleshy portion of the popliteus muscle. Posteriorly, the popliteus muscle is covered by an investing fascia that is reinforced by a dense aponeurotic expansion, largely derived from the tendon of semimembranosus muscle.

Which muscle is the main stabilizer of the dorsal knee region?

The popliteus muscle is also the main stabilizer of the dorsal knee region via its connections to the posterior joint capsule and popliteofibular ligament. In addition, the popliteus muscle pulls the lateral meniscus dorsally during knee flexion and femoral lateral rotation, thus preventing its entrapment.

Which muscle is used to medially rotate the tibia on the femur?

During the open chain (swing) phase of the gait cycle, the foot is above the ground and the tibia is free to move. Therefore, the popliteus muscle can act on its insertion to medially rotate the tibia on the femur.

Which muscle produces lateral rotation of the femur?

The popliteus muscle can produce two types of actions; lateral rotation of the femur or medial rotation of the tibia. These actions are dictated by the phase of the gait cycle:

Which nerve is responsible for the popliteus muscle?

The popliteus muscle receives nervous supply from the tibial nerve (L4-S1), a branch of the sciatic nerve.