Mnemonic: Serve And Volley Next Ball
- Semimembranosus/Semitendinosus
- Artery – Popliteal artery
- Vein – Popliteal vein
- Nerve – Tibial nerve and Common peroneal nerve
- Biceps femoris
Think of popliteal fossa as a diamond-shaped space. The floor is formed by Popliteus muscle.
Membranosus = Medial (The 2 “Semis” go together – hence medial border is formed by semimembranosus, semitendinosus and medial head of gastrocnemius)
Therefore, biceps femoris and lateral head of gastrocnemius has to be lateral.
Causes of lump/swelling in popliteal fossa
Mnemonic: ABCD
- Aneurysm
- Benign and malignant neoplasms:
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS)
- Synovial hemangioma
- Cysts:
- Baker’s cyst (Synovial cyst)
- Ganglionic cyst
- Meniscal cyst
- DVT
