To Investigate the Anatomy and Function of the Popliteus Muscle
David Bryde, Linda Khong, Palina Karakasidou, Nessa Waters, Michael Wong
Dissection
On the medial side of the knee, incisions were made to separate semimenbranosus from semitendinosus and the surrounding tissues. The three tendons forming the pes anserinus were identified. The oblique popliteal ligament was identified ascending from the semimenbranosus tendon to the lateral part of the inter-condylar line and the lateral femoral condyle. The popliteal vessels, and sciatic nerve which bifurcated into tibial and common peroneal nerves at the level of the upper pole of the patella, were identified passing through the adductor magnus. These were dissected, separated and reflected caudally.
Plantaris was identified and cut at its mid tendinous level and reflected. Connective tissues underneath gastrocnemius and plantaris were excised and removed. The soleus muscle was cut at its upper one third and removed, exposing the whole belly of the popliteal muscle. After removing the superficial lamina of the capsule, the LCL was identified between the superficial and deep laminae.