Popliteal fossa & artery

Looks like

A diamond-shaped hollow behind the knee, holding the artery, vein and two nerves.

What it does

The passage between thigh and calf for everything travelling down the leg.

Keeping it well

Nothing routine; a soft swelling here is usually a Baker's cyst from the knee joint in front.

Its parts

• Deep popliteal nodes
• Superficial popliteal nodes

Related conditions

• ACL & meniscus injury
• Baker's (popliteal) cyst
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Growing pains
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypothermia & frostbite
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Kawasaki disease
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Metabolic syndrome
• Orthostatic hypotension & POTS
• Peripheral artery disease
• Phaeochromocytoma & hyperaldosteronism
• Pre-eclampsia
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Reactive arthritis
• Restless legs syndrome
• Sepsis
• Septic arthritis
• Shock (circulatory failure)
• Varicose veins
• Vasculitis (GCA & others)