Back of Thigh & Popliteal Fossa

BACK OF THIGH&
POPLITEAL FOSSA
Dr. Gurdeep Singh Kalyan

Professor & Head
Anatomy Department
Contents of Back of thigh
Muscles:
Hamstring muscles & short
head of biceps femoris
Nerves:
Sciatic nerve & posterior
cutaneous nerve of thigh
Arterial Anastomosis:
Muscles of Back of thigh
(Hamstring muscles)
They are:
1. Semitendinosus
2. Semimembranosus
3. Biceps femoris (long
head)
4. Adductor magnus
Exceptions:
Adductor magnus reaches only upto
adductor
tubercle still why is it a hamstring?
• Tibial collateral ligament of knee
joint represents the morphologic
degenerated tendon of this muscle
Semimembranosus
(has a flat tendon of origin- like a membrane)
Lies posteromedially in thigh

deep to semitendinosus
ORIGIN:
From superolateral impression of
upperpart of
ischial tuberosity
INSERTION:
Into a groove on posterior surface of
medial condyle of tibia
Expansions from the tendon form:
Oblique popliteal
ligament Fascia
covering popliteus
Biceps Femoris
(has two heads of origin- long & short)
Lies postero-laterally in thigh
ORIGIN:
LONG HEAD: from infero-medial impression on
upper part of ischial tuberosity
SHORT HEAD:
1. lateral lip of linea aspera between adductor
 magnus and vastus lateralis
2. Upper 2/3rd of lateral supracondylar line

3. Lateral intermuscular septum
INSERTION:
Into the head of fibula in front of styloid process

Tendon splits into 2 slips around fibular collateral ligament
Adductor Magnus
(hybrid muscle- as 2 nerves supply it)
ORIGIN:
a. Lower lateral part of ischial
tuberosity (hamstring
component)
b. Ramus of the ischium
c. Inferior ramus of pubis –lower
part
INSERTION:
d. Medial margin of gluteal
tuberosity
e. Linea aspera
f. Medial supracondylar line
g. Adductor tubercle(hamstring
component)
Nerve supply
Muscle Nerve Supply
Semitendinosus Sciatic nerve (tibial part)
Semimembranosus Sciatic nerve (tibial part)
Biceps Femoris Long head: Sciatic nerve (tibial

part) Short head: common
peroneal part
Adductor Magnus Hamstring part: Sciatic nerve

(tibial part)
Adductor part: obturator nerve
Muscle Action at hip joint At knee joint
Semitendinosus Extension Flexion, medial

rotation of leg in
semiflexed knee
Semimembranosus Extension Flexion, medial

rotation of leg in
semiflexed knee
Biceps femoris Extension Flexion, lateral

rotation of leg in
semiflexed knee
Adductor magnus Extension Flexion

and
adductio
Sciatic Nerve (Origin)
(L4,L5,S1,S2,S3- Dorsal & ventral divisions)
• Largest branch of sacral

plexus
• Made of 2 parts
• Tibial part
• Common peroneal part
TIBIAL PART-
• Ventral divisions -
L4,L5,S1,S2,S3
COMMON PERONEAL PART-
• Dorsal divisions - L4,L5,S1,S2
Sciatic nerve
( L4,L5,S1,S2,S3 – Both dorsal & ventral divisions)
• Thickest nerve
• Band like about 2 cm wide
• Begins in pelvis
• From pelvis passes to
gluteal region,
then in the back of thigh
• Terminates at superior
angle of
popliteal fossa
• Divides into tibial &
common
peroneal part
Course & relations
• Courses through 3 regions:

• Pelvis
• Gluteal region
• Back of thigh
Terminate at junction of
upper 2/3rd and lower 1/3rd
of back of thigh (superior
angle of popliteal fossa) by
dividing into tibial &
common peroneal nerves
sciatic nerve
contd….
Relations in pelvis
–
• Lies in front of piriformis

covered by fascia
• Leaves the pelvis at lower

border of piriformis by
passing out through greater
sciatic foramen
Branches of sciatic nerve
In the pelvis: No branch
In the gluteal region:

Articular branch to hip joint
In the back of thigh:

Muscular branches-
FROM TIBIAL COMPONENT - semitendinosus,
semimembranosus, long head of biceps femoris & ischial
head of adductor magnus (from medial side of sciatic
nerve)
FROM COMMON PERONEAL COMPONENT – short head of

biceps femoris (from lateral side of sciatic nerve)
Arterial anastomosis at the back of
thigh
2 longitudnal
anastomotic channels:
1. On / within
substance of
adductor magnus
2. Close to linea
aspera
Formed by branches
of
• Internal iliac
• Femoral
•
Arterial anastomosis at the back of thigh
cont….
Above Downwards-
1
1. Gluteal arteries & circumflex

femoral arteries
2
2. Circumflex femoral with 1st
perforating
3. Perforating arteries with each
3 other
4. 4th perforating with upper
muscular branch
of popliteal artery
Provide an alternative route of blood

4
supply to lower limb by passing
external iliac and femoral
arteries.
Applied
anatomy
Sleeping foot
• Temporary numbness of lower limb due to compression of sciatic

nerve in gluteal region by prolonged sitting
Sciatica
(irritation or compression of sciatic nerve)
Nerve pain that originates in the

lower back (gluteal region)
radiates deep into the buttock,
along back of thigh, travels
down the lateral side of leg to
the dorsum of foot.
Pain travels
Injury to sciatic nerve
(by penetrating wounds , dislocation of hip)
• Sensory loss on whole leg and foot except the area

innervated by saphenous nerve
• Motor loss-
• loss of hamstring muscles
• Loss of foot dorsiflexors (anterior compartment
of leg)
• Loss of foot plantar flexors(posterior
compartment of
leg)
• Loss of evertors of foot (lateral compartment of
leg)
• Loss of all movements below the knee
• Foot drop

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BACK OF THIGH&

Dr. Gurdeep Singh Kalyan

Lies posteromedially in thigh

2. Upper 2/3rd of lateral supracondylar line

Into the head of fibula in front of styloid process

Semitendinosus Sciatic nerve (tibial part)

Semimembranosus Sciatic nerve (tibial part)

Biceps Femoris Long head: Sciatic nerve (tibial

Adductor Magnus Hamstring part: Sciatic nerve

Semitendinosus Extension Flexion, medial

Semimembranosus Extension Flexion, medial

Biceps femoris Extension Flexion, lateral

Adductor magnus Extension Flexion

• Largest branch of sacral

• Courses through 3 regions:

• Lies in front of piriformis

• Leaves the pelvis at lower

In the gluteal region:

In the back of thigh:

FROM COMMON PERONEAL COMPONENT – short head of

1. Gluteal arteries & circumflex

Provide an alternative route of blood

• Temporary numbness of lower limb due to compression of sciatic

Nerve pain that originates in the

• Sensory loss on whole leg and foot except the area

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