Popliteus muscle

The popliteus muscle (Latin for " popliteal muscle ") is a skeletal muscle and is located in the deep flexor compartment of the lower leg. He is a small muscle that lies close to the joint capsule from behind.

In the tendon of the muscle of origin a sesamoid bone is incorporated in some species, which is also referred to as Cyamella. This occurs in cats, wet nose monkeys and marmosets always, in dogs at about 80 % of the individuals and rarely in humans and other primates.

Function

Although the popliteus muscle is the flexor compartment of the lower leg, he actually acts only bending at the knee when the joint is already severely bent. Here he pulls the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus to the rear and thus protects it against entrapment. For nearly extended knee he acts because of its relationship to the flexion axis slightly stretching the joint. However, its main function is to eliminate the final rotation of the knee by rotating the shinbone ( tibia) to the inside, or with an erected leg the femur to the tibia outwards. Thus, the collateral ligaments are ( relative to the situation with the knee ) relaxes and the femoral head is repositioned in the articular surface of the tibia, creating a flexion of the knee is possible.