Popliteus

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The Popliteus is located in the Deep Posterior Compartment of the (lower) leg. The muscles in the deep posterior compartment are:

• Popliteus
• Tibialis posterior
• Flexor digitorum longus
• Flexor hallucis longus

ATTACHMENTS:

• Distal posterolateral femur to the proximal posteromedial tibia.
  • The popliteus attaches proximally onto the lateral surface of the lateral condyle of the femur.

ACTIONS:

• Medially rotates the leg at the knee joint.
• Laterally rotates the thigh at the knee joint.
• Flexes the leg at the knee joint.

NOTES:

1. The proximal tendon of the popliteus travels through the knee joint cavity. It is one of only two muscles in the human body that are intra-articular (the other being the long head of the biceps brachii).
2. Lateral rotation of the thigh (femur) at the knee joint is the reverse/closed-chain joint action of medial rotation of the leg (tibia) at the knee joint.
3. The rotation component of the popliteus is especially important at “unlocking” the extended knee joint.