Which term describes the muscle located behind the knee?

Which term describes the muscle located behind the knee?

• A. Popliteus
• B. Sciatic nerve
• C. Peroneal artery
• D. Anterior scrotal arteries

Answer: (A)

Behind the knee sits a small muscle called the popliteus. It lies in the popliteal fossa, the shallow hollow at the back of the knee, and it plays a special role in starting knee flexion. The popliteus originates on the lateral femoral condyle and lateral meniscus, then inserts on the posterior surface of the tibia above the soleal line. Its action is to “unlock” the knee by medially rotating the tibia relative to the femur when the knee is extended, allowing the knee to smoothly begin bending. This makes it the muscle most closely described as being located behind the knee and involved in its movement. Other options aren’t muscles in that region: the sciatic nerve is a major nerve running down the leg, the peroneal (fibular) artery is a blood vessel, and the anterior scrotal arteries are arteries supplying the scrotum.

Behind the knee sits a small muscle called the popliteus. It lies in the popliteal fossa, the shallow hollow at the back of the knee, and it plays a special role in starting knee flexion. The popliteus originates on the lateral femoral condyle and lateral meniscus, then inserts on the posterior surface of the tibia above the soleal line. Its action is to “unlock” the knee by medially rotating the tibia relative to the femur when the knee is extended, allowing the knee to smoothly begin bending. This makes it the muscle most closely described as being located behind the knee and involved in its movement.

Other options aren’t muscles in that region: the sciatic nerve is a major nerve running down the leg, the peroneal (fibular) artery is a blood vessel, and the anterior scrotal arteries are arteries supplying the scrotum.