Popliteus

Looks like

A small flat triangular muscle at the back of the knee, running from the outer thigh bone to the back of the upper shin.

What it does

Unlocks the straight knee by twisting it slightly so it can start to bend; helps stabilise the back-outer corner.

Keeping it well

Injured in some twisting knee injuries and with outer-corner ligament tears; pain behind the knee on downhill running can be tendinitis.

Related conditions

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Botulism
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Compartment syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Growing pains
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Lymphangitis
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Superficial thrombophlebitis
• Tetanus
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite