Left popliteus

A deep muscle behind the knee

Popliteus belongs to the deep posterior compartment but acts at the knee. Unlike the long toe flexors, it does not continue into the foot.

Start with the isolated selection. The short outline is easier to locate here than among all the muscles of the leg.

Sources: Anatomy tables · popliteus

From the femur to the tibia

Its tendon attaches to the lateral femoral condyle. The muscle reaches the back of the upper tibia, above the soleal line.

The bone links below open the whole femur or tibia, not a marked attachment footprint. Menisci, capsule and separate ligaments are absent from this model.

Sources: Anatomy tables · popliteus

What does unlocking the knee mean?

A fully extended knee has a small rotational component to its locked position. Popliteus helps reverse this as flexion begins; unlocking is not dislocation or separation of the joint surfaces.

With the foot free, it turns the tibia medially relative to the femur. With the foot planted, it turns the femur laterally relative to the tibia. It also assists knee flexion.

Front, Back and Oblique rotate the camera only. This study does not animate knee unlocking, muscle contraction or a measured range of motion.

Sources: Anatomy tables · popliteus · OpenStax · Knee joint

Innervation and blood supply

Motor innervation comes from the tibial nerve. Genicular branches of the popliteal artery contribute its arterial supply.

Neither the nerve nor the vessels are loaded, so these relationships cannot be selected or traced in the viewer.

Sources: Anatomy tables · popliteus

Read the model

Explore left popliteus in 3D

1. Start behind the knee. Choose Back while isolated, then rotate gently to inspect the outline. The tendon portion keeps the muscle color and is not a separate selectable part.
2. Compare the nearby bones. Open the same-side knee study for four bones and popliteus. The complete femur and tibia meshes are retained even when their shafts extend beyond the close-up. Left knee study →
3. Return to the deep group. Show context on this structure page restores 31 bones and 21 muscle parts on this side. The regional lower-leg view has no femur or foot bones; use the knee study to compare both attachment bones. Left deep posterior guides →

Sources and editorial status

This guide uses independently written explanations with links to the evidence behind them. Source checking and specialist anatomical review are separate steps; the latter is still pending.

1. TTUHSC El Paso — Hip, posterior thigh and leg anatomy tables

   Popliteus row: attachments, tibial nerve, genicular arterial supply and actions with the foot free or planted. Compartment table: deep posterior group.

2. OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e — Anatomy of selected synovial joints

   Knee-joint section: locking and unlocking with rotation. Independently written summary; no textbook illustrations reproduced.

3D geometry and its separate license are credited beneath the viewer. References do not imply endorsement of this site.