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# Popliteus tendon

The popliteus tendon runs from the outer [femur](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/femur/) around the back of the knee; it helps unlock the straight knee so it can bend.

Official name: Tendon of popliteus

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## What it is

The tendon of the [popliteus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/popliteus-muscle/), running from the outer femur around the back of the knee.

## What it does

Helps unlock the knee and steadies the back-outer corner.

## Key points

- Inside the [joint capsule](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/articular-capsule-of-knee-joint/) but outside the synovium; at the popliteal hiatus the lateral meniscus has no capsular attachment, a normal gap that can be misread as a tear on MRI
- Its femoral attachment lies in front of and below that of the LCL, a key relation in posterolateral corner reconstruction
- The tendon can avulse from the lateral femoral condyle, sometimes alone, causing a bloody knee effusion

## Key facts

**Attaches**
Anterior end of the popliteal groove on the lateral femoral condyle; runs inside the capsule, deep to the LCL and through the popliteal hiatus beside the lateral meniscus, with fascicles to the meniscus and the [popliteofibular ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/popliteofibular-ligament/)

**Function**
Unlocks the extended knee (rotates the tibia medially on the femur, or the femur laterally on a fixed tibia); retracts the lateral meniscus; part of the posterolateral corner

**Tight in**
Lateral rotation of the tibia and varus stress

## Relations

**Course**
From the front of the popliteal groove on the lateral femoral condyle it runs back and down inside the capsule, deep to the LCL, through the hiatus behind the [lateral meniscus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-meniscus/), and becomes the muscle above the soleal line of the [tibia](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tibia/)

**Superficial**
LCL and, further out, the [biceps femoris tendon](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tendon-of-biceps-femoris/)

**Medial**
Posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, linked to it by popliteomeniscal fascicles

**Behind**
[Arcuate popliteal ligament](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/arcuate-popliteal-ligament/) and the [lateral head of gastrocnemius](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/lateral-head-of-gastrocnemius/)

## How to find it

Not palpable; at arthroscopy it is seen in the lateral gutter and through the popliteal hiatus behind the lateral meniscus.

## Examination

- Dial test, prone: outward tibial rotation 10° or more greater than the other side at 30° of knee flexion suggests a posterolateral corner injury; if it is also greater at 90°, the PCL is likely torn as well
- Posterolateral drawer test: with the knee bent and the foot turned out, the lateral tibial plateau rotates backward under pressure in posterolateral corner injuries

## On imaging

Coronal and sagittal MRI show the tendon in its groove and through the hiatus; tears, avulsions and oedema around it are part of every posterolateral corner review.

## Clinical notes

- Popliteus tendinopathy causes pain on the outer knee, classically with downhill running
- Reconstructed together with the LCL and the popliteofibular ligament in chronic posterolateral corner instability
- Tears of the small popliteomeniscal fascicles at the hiatus can leave the lateral meniscus hypermobile, so the knee locks although MRI shows no meniscal tear; at arthroscopy a probe lifts the meniscus far into the joint

## Anatomical variants

- A sesamoid in the tendon (cyamella) can mimic a fragment from a lateral meniscal tear
- A small extra muscle, the popliteus minor, is rare

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## What is the main action of the popliteus?

It unlocks the extended knee by rotating the tibia medially on the femur (or the femur laterally on a fixed tibia).

## Why can the popliteal hiatus be misread as a lateral meniscus tear on MRI?

At the hiatus the lateral meniscus has no capsular attachment: a normal gap where the popliteus tendon passes.

## Where is the femoral attachment of the popliteus tendon relative to the LCL?

In front of and below the LCL attachment, on the lateral femoral condyle.

## What does popliteus tendinopathy classically cause?

Pain on the outer knee, classically with downhill running.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
musculus popliteus TA2 2665

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Tendón del poplíteo DeCS D013710

**English (TA2)**
Tendon of popliteus

## Related

- [LCL](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/fibular-collateral-ligament/)
- [Popliteus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/popliteus-muscle/)
- [Femur](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/femur/)

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [DeCS](https://decs.bvsalud.org/es/ths/resource/?id=14088); [Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Popliteus Muscle](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526084/).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tendon-of-popliteus/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/tendon-of-popliteus/