Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The proximal attachments of the popliteus muscle: a quantitative study and clinical significance

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Controversies about the existence of accessory proximal popliteus muscle attachments can be found in the literature. The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence and width of popliteus attachments on the articular and periarticular structures of the knee joint. The relation of these attachments to tibiofemoral cartilage and meniscus degeneration was also investigated. Forty-two anatomical specimens were dissected. The incidence of accessory proximal attachments was determined and their width measured using a caliper. The fibular attachment of the popliteus was observed in 98% of cases; its mean width was 11 (SD 3) mm. At least one attachment on the lateral meniscus was found in 95% of the specimens, with a mean width of 6 (SD 2) mm. Three types of meniscal attachments of the popliteus could be identified. The severity of meniscus and tibiofemoral cartilage alterations was significantly related to the number of meniscopopliteal fascicles: more severe alterations were seen in knees with fewer meniscopopliteal fascicles. Popliteus attachments on the posterior knee joint capsule (57%), arcuate (90%) and oblique popliteal (79%) ligaments were also observed in most specimens. Popliteus muscle relationships with the posterior cruciate (5%) and meniscofemoral (33%) ligament were less common. In conclusion, accessory popliteus attachments on the fibula, lateral meniscus and arcuate popliteal ligament can be considered constant characteristics. The results of this study suggest a role of the popliteus in the protection of knee menisci and tibiofemoral cartilage. The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0093-7.

Résumé

Des controverses au sujet de l'existence des insertions proximales annexes du muscle poplité peuvent être trouvées dans la littérature. Le but de cette étude était de vérifier l'incidence et la largeur des insertions du muscle poplité sur les structures articulaires et péri-articulaires du genou. La relation de ces attaches à la dégénérescence du cartilage tibio-fémoral et des ménisques a également été étudiée. Quarante-deux préparations anatomiques ont été disséquées. L'incidence des insertions proximales annexes a été déterminée et leur largeur a été mesurée à l'aide d'un pied à coulisse. L'attache fibulaire du muscle poplité a été observée dans 98% des cas, sa largeur moyenne était de 11 mm (SD 2). Au moins une attache sur le ménisque latéral a été trouvée dans 95% des spécimens, avec une largeur moyenne de 6 mm (SD 2). Trois types de connexions méniscales du muscle poplité ont pu être identifiés. La sévérité des altérations des ménisques et du cartilage tibio-fémoral était significativement liée au nombre de fascicules ménisco-poplités: des altérations plus sévères étaient observées dans les genoux présentant moins de fascicules ménisco-poplités. Des attaches du muscle poplité sur la capsule articulaire postérieure du genou (57%) et les ligaments poplités arqué (90%) et oblique (de 79%) étaient aussi présentes dans la plupart des spécimens. Les rapports du muscle poplité avec les ligaments croisé postérieur (5%) et ménisco-fémoral (33%) étaient moins communs. En conclusion, les attaches annexes du muscle poplité sur la fibula, le ménisque latéral et le ligament poplité arqué peuvent être considérées comme des caractéristiques constantes. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent un rôle du muscle poplité dans la protection des ménisques du genou et du cartilage tibio-fémoral.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1a−e.
Fig. 2a, b.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Basmajian J, Lovejoy J (1971) Functions of the popliteus muscle in man. A multifactorial EMG study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 53: 557–562

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bousquet G, Le Bequec P, Girardin P (1991) Les laxités chroniques du genou. Medsi/McGraw-Hill, Paris

  3. Casscells SW (1978) Gross pathological changes in the knee joint of the aged individual: a study of 300 cases. Clin Orthop 132: 225–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Covey DC (2001) Injuries of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 83: 106–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Fabbriciani C, Oransky M (1990) The popliteus muscle. In: Jakob P, Stäubli HU (eds) The knee and the cruciate ligaments. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 48–61

  6. Harley JD (1977) An anatomic−arthrographic study of the relationships of the lateral meniscus and the popliteus tendon. AJR Am J Roentgenol 128: 181–187

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Höher J, Harner CD, Vogrin TM, Baek GH, Carlin GJ, Woo SL (1998) In situ forces in the posterolateral structures of the knee under posterior tibial loading in the intact and posterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee. J Orthop Res 16: 675–681

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jones CD, Keene GC, Christie AD (1995) The popliteus as a retractor of the lateral meniscus of the knee. Arthroscopy 11: 270–274

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kim YC, Chung IH, Yoo WK, Suh JS, Kim SJ, Park CI (1997) Anatomy and magnetic resonance imaging of the posterolateral structures of the knee. Clin Anat 10: 397–404

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kulkarni VV, Chand K (1975) Pathological anatomy of the aging meniscus. Acta Orthop Scand 46: 135–140

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Last R (1950) The popliteus muscle and the lateral meniscus. J Bone Joint Surg Br 32: 93–99

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lovejoy JF Jr, Harden TP (1971) Popliteus muscle in man. Anat Rec 169: 727–730

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Maynard MJ, Deng X, Wickiewicz TL, Warren RF (1996) The popliteofibular ligament. Rediscovery of a key element in posterolateral stability. Am J Sports Med 24: 311–316

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Merida-Velasco JA, Sanchez-Montesinos I, Espin-Ferra J, Merida-Velasco JR, Rodriguez-Vazquez JF, Jimenez-Collado J (1997) Development of the human knee joint ligaments. Anat Rec 248: 259–268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Müller W (1983) The knee. Form, function and ligament reconstruction. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 73–115

  16. Noyes FR, Stabler CL (1989) A system for grading articular cartilage lesions at arthroscopy. Am J Sports Med 17: 505–513

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Perretti F de, Berthe A, Lacroix R, Bourgeon A (1983) Anatomie fonctionnelle des ligaments et ménisques du compartiment latéral de l'articulation fémoro-tibiale dans les mouvements de rotation. Ann Kinési 10: 203–207

    Google Scholar 

  18. Peterson L, Pitman MI, Gold J (1984) The active pivot shift: the role of the popliteus muscle. Am J Sports Med 12: 313–317

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Recondo JA, Salvador E, Villanua JA, Barrera MC, Gervas C, Alustiza JM (2000) Lateral stabilizing structures of the knee: functional anatomy and injuries assessed with MR imaging. Radiographics 20: 91–102

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Reis FP, de Carvalho CA (1975) Anatomical study on the proximal attachments of the human popliteus muscle. Rev Bras Pesqui Med Biol 8: 373–380

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Shahane S, Ibbotson C, Strachan R, Bickerstaff D (1999) The popliteofibular ligament. An anatomical study of the posterolateral corner of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 81: 636–642

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Simonian PT, Sussmann PS, Wickiewicz TL, Potter HG, van Trommel M, Weiland-Holland S, Warren RF (1997) Popliteomeniscal fasciculi and the unstable lateral meniscus: clinical correlation and magnetic resonance diagnosis. Arthroscopy 13: 590–596

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Stäubli HU, Birrer S (1990) The popliteus tendon and its fascicles at the popliteal hiatus: gross anatomy and functional arthroscopic evaluation with and without anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. Arthroscopy 6: 209–220

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Stickland NC (1975) A detailed analysis of the effects of various fixatives on animal tissue with particular reference to muscle tissue. Stain Technol 50:255–264

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sudasna S, Harnsiriwattanagit K (1990) The ligamentous structures of the posterolateral aspect of the knee. Bull Hosp Dis Jt Orthop Inst 50: 35–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sussmann PS, Simonian PT, Wickiewicz TL, Warren RF (2001) Development of the popliteomeniscal fasciculi in the fetal human knee joint. Arthroscopy 17: 14–18

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Terry GC, LaPrade RF (1996) The posterolateral aspect of the knee. Anatomy and surgical approach. Am J Sports Med 24: 732–739

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Tria A, Johnson C, Zawadsky J (1989) The popliteus tendon. J Bone Joint Surg Am 71: 714–716

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ullrich K, Krudwig WK, Witzel U (2002) Posterolateral aspect and stability of the knee joint. I. Anatomy and function of the popliteus muscle–tendon unit: an anatomical and biomechanical study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 10: 86–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Van Dommelen BA, Fowler PJ (1989) Anatomy of the posterior cruciate ligament. A review. Am J Sports Med 17: 24–29

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Van Sint Jan S, Rooze M (1992) The thenar muscles. New findings. Surg Radiol Anat 14: 325–329

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Watanabe Y, Moriya H, Takahashi K, Yamagata M, Sonoda M, Shimada Y, Tamaki T (1993) Functional anatomy of the posterolateral structures of the knee. Arthroscopy 9: 57–62

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Functional Anatomy, University of Brussels (CP 619), 808 route de Lennik, 1070, Brussels, Belgium

    V. Feipel, M.-L. Simonnet & M. Rooze

Authors
  1. V. Feipel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M.-L. Simonnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Rooze
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Feipel.

Additional information

The French version of this article is available in the form of electronic supplementary material and can be obtained by using the Springer Link server located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0093-7

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Feipel, V., Simonnet, ML. & Rooze, M. The proximal attachments of the popliteus muscle: a quantitative study and clinical significance. Surg Radiol Anat 25, 58–63 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0093-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-002-0093-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation