1. Anatomy
Back of the Thigh
Dr Dalia Saleh

2. Objectives
 Bony features
 Muscles of the back of the thigh
 Sciatic nerve
 Popliteal fossa
 Boundaries
 Contents
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

4. 1. Ischial tuberosity
(upper lateral)
2. Ischial tuberosity
(lower medial)
3. Ischial tuberosity
(sitting area)
1
2
4. Ischial ramus 4
3
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

5. 1. Linea aspera
2
2. Gluteal tuberosity.
tuberosity.
3. Medial supracondylar line 7
4. Adductor tubercle 6 5
1
5. Lateral epicondyle
6. Popliteal groove
7. Pit for lateral head of gastrocnemius 3
4
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

6. 1. Back of the medial tibial condyle
(groove)
1 2
2. Styloid process.
3. Fibular head 3
4. Tibial tuberosity
5. Upper ¼ of medial surface of
4
tibia
5
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

7. Back of the Thigh

8. Back of the Thigh
Content:
1. Hamstring
 Ischial head of adductor magnus
 Semitendinosus
 Semimembranosus
 Long head of biceps femoris
2. Short head of biceps femoris
3. Sciatic nerve
4. Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
5. Vessels
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

9. MUSCLES

10. Ischial Head Adductor Magnus
 Origin:
 Ischial tuberosity and ischial ramus
 Insertion:
 Adductor tubercle of the femur
 Nerve supply:
 Ischial part  Sciatic nerve
 Action:
 Extends hip and flexes knee
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

11. Hamstring Muscles
1. Semimembranosus
2. Semitendinosus
3. Long head of biceps femoris
Origin: Ischial tuberosity.
Insertion: Upper end of fibula or tibia.
N.S: tibial division of sciatic nerve.
Action:
 Extend the thigh at hip joint.
 Flex and rotate the leg at knee joint.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

12. Semimembranosus
Origin:
 By a flat tendon from the
upper & lateral part of
ischial tuberosity.
Insertion:
 By a rounded tendon into
the horizontal groove
behind medial condyle of
the tibia.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

13. Semitendenosus
Origin:
 In common with long head
of biceps from the medial
part of ischial tuberosity.
tuberosity.
Insertion:
 By a cord like tendon into
the upper part of medial
surface of the tibia.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

14. Biceps Femoris (Long Head)
Origin:
 In common tendon with semitendinosis
from the lower medial part of ischial
tuberosity.
tuberosity.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

15. Biceps Femoris (Short Head)
Origin:
 Linea aspera.
 Lateral supracondylar line.
Insertion:
 Joins long head into the head of the fibula.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

16. POPLITEAL FOSSA

17. Boundaries
 Diamond shaped
 Upper lateral boundary:
 Biceps femoris
 Upper medial boundary:
 Semimembranosus
 Semitendinosus
 Two lower boundaries are the
heads of gastrocnemius
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

18. Roof
 Skin, superficial fascia
containing cutaneous nerves and
vessels
 Deep fascia
Floor
 Popliteal surface of the femur
 Capsule of the knee joint
 Fascia over the popliteus muscle
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

19. Popliteus Muscle
Origin:
 By a tendon from anterior end
of popliteal groove on lateral
femoral condyle.
 Its tendon passes under
lateral collateral ligament of
the knee
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

20. Popliteus Muscle
Insertion:
 Tendon passes within the knee
capsule under arcuate popliteal
ligament
 Into a triangular area on the
posterior surface of the tibia
above the soleal line.
 Knee capsule
 Lateral meniscus
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

21. Popliteus Muscle
N.S:
 Tibial nerve.
Action:
 Unlock the knee to start
flexion.
 Retraction of lateral
meniscus during flexion.
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

22. Contents
 Popliteal artery and its branches
 Popliteal vein and its tributaries
 Popliteal lympn nodes
 Tibial and common peroneal
nerves and their branches
 Fatty tissue
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

23. Popliteal Artery
Beginning:
 Continuation of femoral a. @
adductor magnus hiatus
Termination:
 Divide into anterior and posterior
tibial arteries @ lower border of
poplitus
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

24. Popliteal Artery
Course:
 It is the deepest of the structures
of the popliteal fossa
 Anterior relations = floor of the
fossa
Branches:
1. Superior, inferior, and middle
genicular arteries
2. Muscular branches (sural)
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

25. Popliteal Vein
Formation:
 Union of the venae comitantes of
the anterior and posterior tibial
arteries near the lower border of
the popliteus muscle
Termination:
 Pass through adductor magnus
hiatus into adductor canal and
continues as femoral vein
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

26. Popliteal Vein
Course:
 Along its course, lies between
popliteal artery and tibial nerve
Tributaries:
1. Veins that accompany the branches
of the artery
2. Small saphenous vein
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

27. Small Saphenous Vein
Formation:
 From the lateral side of dorsal venous
arch of foot
Course:
 Ascends behind lateral malleolus
 Then upward in the calf
 Drains the lateral side of the foot and
ankle and the back of the leg.
Termination:
 Pierces the deep fascia and drains into
the popliteal vein
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

28. Popliteal Lymph Nodes
 Few nodes just under the deep
fascia
 Embedded in the fatty connective
tissue of popliteal fossa, close to
the popliteal vessels
 Drain the deep tissues of the leg,
foot and knee joint
 Efferents to the deep inguinal LN
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

29. Sciatic Nerve
 Leaves gluteal region to back of thigh
midway between the greater trochanter
and ischial tuberosity.
 Lying deep to long head of biceps femoris
 Usually divides into tibial and common
peroneal nerves just above popliteal fossa
 Innervates muscles of the back of the
thigh
 Has articular branches to hip and knee
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

30. Tibial Nerve
 Passes vertically in the fossa
 Leaves between the 2 heads of
gastrocnemius
 Gives:
 Muscular  to muscles arising
from the popliteal fossa
 Articular  3 genicular nerves
 Cutaneous  sural nerve
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)

31. Common Peroneal Nerve
 Passes medial to biceps femoris
 Disappears into peroneus longus
 Lie on neck of fibula
 Gives:
 Muscular  NONE in the fossa
 Articular  3 genicular nerves
 Cutaneous  sural communicating
nerve and lateral cutaneous
nerve of the calf
Dr. Dalia Saleh (Anatomy Dept)