Folia Morphol.

Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 381–384

Copyright © 2006 Via Medica
ORIGINAL ARTICLE ISSN 0015–5659
www.fm.viamedica.pl

A study on the morphology of the popliteus

muscle and arcuate popliteal ligament
G. Paraskevas1, B. Papaziogas1, P. Kitsoulis2, S. Spanidou1
1Department of Anatomy, Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
2Institute of Anatomy, University of Ioannina, Greece

[Received 28 December 2006; Revised 17 July 2006; Accepted 1 August 2006]

The aim of this study was to investigate the origins and morphological features
of the popliteus muscle in cadavers.
In a sample of 40 lower limbs taken from cadavers the exact morphological
features of the popliteus muscle were examined.
In 100% of the cases studied we noticed, apart from the known femoral origin
from the lateral femoral epicondyle, a fibular origin from the styloid process of
the head of the fibula directed obliquely and blending with the main femoral
origin, forming the arms of a Y-shaped structure. In all the cases a capsular
origin was presented, while in 91.67% an origin lateral to it from the superior
border of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus was found. The capsular
and meniscal origins formed the base of the Y-shaped structure that corresponded
to the known arcuate ligament.
We consider that the additional origins of the popliteus muscle form the arcuate
ligament, which is not a distinct anatomical structure as it is described in tradi-
tional anatomical textbooks. In addition, we have analysed the exact morpho-
logical features of the capsular, fibular and meniscal origins of the popliteal
muscle.

Key words: popliteus muscle, arcuate ligament, morphology

INTRODUCTION don takes its origin only from a pit on the lateral
The popliteus muscle is a unique muscle because surface of the femoral condyle just below the at-
an inversion of its origin and insertion appears. Thus tachment of the fibular collateral ligament of the
the tendinous attachment is the origin from the prox- knee.
imal bone, while the fleshy attachment represents The first description of the popliteus tendon as
the insertion of the muscle. There is confusion con- having additional origins from the lateral menis-
cerning the morphology of the popliteus muscle and cus, the fibular head and the ligaments of Win-
especially its origins. McMinn [13] reported that only slow and Wrisberg was by Higgins in 1894 [8].
occasionally is the tendon partially attached to the Later, Fürst [6] in 1903 confirmed these observa-
lateral meniscus. Basmajian [4] stated that a vari- tions, making analytical reports of popliteus muscle
able bundle of fleshy fibres from its upper border comparative anatomy. Paturet [16] described an
gains a fibrous attachment to the hinder part of the origin from the posterior surface of the articular
lateral meniscus, thereby forming an articular mus- capsule of the knee through a fibrous band con-
cle. Various authors, such as Anson [1], Moore [14] sisting of two portions: a lateral portion that gave an
and Goss [7] have mentioned that the popliteus ten- attachment to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius

Address for correspondence: Dr. B. Papaziogas, Senior Lecturer of Surgery, Fanariou str. 16, 551 33 Thessaloniki, Greece, tel: 0030 2310 992562,
fax: 0030 2310 992563, e-mail: papaziog@med.auth.gr

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and a medial portion that was united with the

oblique popliteal ligament. Additionally, Paturet [16]
mentioned a small fibrous expansion to the pos-
terolateral surface of the lateral meniscus. Williams
et al. [20] reported on three additional origins from
the fibrous capsule, the arcuate popliteal ligament
and the outer margin of the lateral meniscus, while
Romanes [18] mentioned two additional origins,
one from the lateral meniscus and one from the
fibula.
In addition, Lindner [11] reported an origin from
the oblique popliteal ligament and from the outer
margin of the lateral meniscus. Rogers [17] men-
tioned two additional origins, one from the capsule Figure 1. A fibular origin of the popliteus muscle is shown
extending between the main tendon and the head of the fibula.
and one from the lateral meniscus, while Pansky [15]
reported an additional origin from the popliteal lig-
ament without determining whether it was the ob- of a fibrous band extending obliquely between the
lique or the arcuate that was under consideration. head of the fibula and the tendon 1–1.5 cm below
From the previous reports, it may be seen that the level of the knee joint line. This band appeared
there is some confusion about the exact morpholo- in all the cases studied (100%) at the site of the pos-
gy of such an important muscle. Our aim is to de- terior-lateral aspect of the knee joint (Fig. 1). The
scribe its origins and declare its morphological fea- length of this band had a mean value of 1.2 cm
tures in cadavers. (0.8–1.5 cm), while its width had a mean value of
0.4 cm (0.3–0.55 cm). Furthermore, in all the cases
MATERIAL AND METHODS studied (100%) we found a fibrous attachment of
Our material was taken from human cadavers the tendon to the posterior aspect of the fibrous
used for educational purposes with medical students capsule of the knee joint (Fig. 2).
in the Department of Anatomy of the Aristotle Uni- Simultaneously, an additional ligamentous band
versity of Thessaloniki. In particular, we prepared the was found extending between the popliteal tendon
knee region in 40 lower limbs of 20 cadavers, 12 of and the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. In
which were male and 8 female. particular, a fibrous band extended from the superi-
After a careful dissection of the popliteal fossa or margin of the terminal portion of the tendon to
the popliteal vessels, the tibial and common pero- the superior margin of the posterior horn of the
neal nerves, the upper third of the gastrocnemius
muscle and the long plantar muscle were dissected
for the purpose of visualising the popliteus muscle,
the fibrous capsule and the lateral meniscus. Our
aim was to present the anatomical relationship be-
tween these structures. We also prepared drawings
for representative photographs.

RESULTS
Our specimens were consistent in showing an
origin in a small pit of the lateral surface of the lat-
eral femoral condyle. This pit was located just ante-
rior to the femoral attachment of the lateral collat-
eral ligament. The tendon is then directed posterior-
ly and inferiorly underneath the lateral collateral lig-
ament. The other aspect of the tendon blends with
the fibrous capsule and finally emerges from the joint
Figure 2. A capsular origin of the popliteus muscle was found
beneath the lateral head of the gastrocnemius mus- extending between the posterior aspect of the fibrous capsule
cle. During our dissections we noticed the presence of the knee joint and the main tendon.

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Figure 4. Posterior aspect of the right knee joint showing the

popliteus muscle; a — main popliteal tendon, b — fibular origin,
c — meniscal origin, d — capsular origin.

Figure 3. A fibrous band of the main tendon appears to be

attached to the superior margin of the posterior horn of the
Taylor and Bonney [19] made a comparative study
lateral meniscus, leaving the inferior margin free.
ranging from reptiles to primates and concluded that
the popliteus muscle is a homologous anatomical
lateral meniscus (Fig. 3). The mean length of the band structure of the deep part of the teres pronator and
was 0.35 cm (from 0.2 to 0.45 cm) and its mean originated primitively from the fibula and the ulna
width was 1.25 cm (0.95–1.45 cm). The fibrous band respectively. During evolution these origins “trans-
appeared in 22 out of 24 of the popliteal tendons ferred to the lateral femoral condyle and medial
studied, a percentage of 91.67%. In studying the humeral epicondyle, respectively”. In our study we
morphology of the additional origins of the popli- found the fibular attachment presented in 100% of
teus muscle we noticed that a Y-shaped ligament our cases, while Lovejoy and Harden [12] found it in
was formed that corresponded to that known as the 95.83%. Only Higgins [8] mentioned that after ex-
arcuate ligament. One arm of the Y is formed by the ternal rotation of the tibia is completed the fibular
fibular origin and the other arm by the meniscal or- origin acts as a check-rein, enabling the muscle to
igin of the popliteus muscle (Fig. 4). Finally, in all act to greater advantage on the meniscus and with-
cadavers the belly of the popliteus muscle was in- draw it as flexion is completed.
serted on the popliteal surface of the tibia above The popliteus muscle is a lateral rotator of the
the soleal line. femur on the tibia when the foot is fixed on the
ground or a medial rotator of the tibia on the femur
DISCUSSION in the free limb. It is usually regarded as the muscle
The first to report that the popliteus muscle is that “unlocks” the joint at the beginning of flexion
attached to the lateral meniscus was Higgins [8] in of the fully extended knee. According to Last [10],
1894. Later, in 1950, Last [10] brought an analytical the tendon’s connection with the fibrous capsule (the
approach to this additional attachment of the popli- arcuate popliteal ligament) and lateral meniscus sug-
teus muscle. Similarly, the first mention that tendi- gests that it may retract the posterior horn of the
nous fibres originated from the head of the fibula lateral meniscus during lateral rotation of the femur
was made by Higgins [8] in 1894. This tendinous and flexion of the knee joint, protecting the meniscus
band seems to be phylogenetically significant. from being crushed between the femur and the tibia

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during these movements. Dynamic electromyograph- cases. Moreover, we assessed the exact morphological
ic studies of the popliteus muscle during flexion show features of that ligament. We are now able, finally, to
that the activity is related to rotation rather than to present the exact dimensions of the fibular, capsular
flexion. It is therefore inferred that the flexion ac- and meniscal origins of the popliteus muscle.
tion of the muscle is negligible [5]. Barnett and Rich-
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