A 35-year-old male presents to the anatomy lab for cadaveric dissection of the popliteal fossa. The dissector is asked to identify the boundaries and contents of this region. Which of the following structures forms the medial boundary of the popliteal fossa?

Explanation

## Boundaries of the Popliteal Fossa The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped space on the posterior aspect of the knee. Its boundaries are classically defined as: **Medial boundary:** - **Semimembranosus** (superiorly) - **Semitendinosus** (superiorly) - **Gracilis** (superiorly, contributes minimally) - **Medial head of gastrocnemius** (inferiorly) **Lateral boundary:** - **Biceps femoris** and its tendon (superiorly) - **Lateral head of gastrocnemius** (inferiorly) **Floor:** - Popliteal surface of femur - Posterior knee joint capsule - Popliteus muscle **Roof:** - Skin and fascia - Popliteal fascia (continuation of fascia lata) **Key Point:** The semimembranosus and semitendinosus form the superomedial boundary of the popliteal fossa. This is a high-yield anatomical landmark tested frequently in NEET PG. **Contents:** Popliteal artery, popliteal vein, tibial and common peroneal nerves, lymph nodes, and fat.