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What is the inside of the knee called? What is the place behind the knee called?

The area of the back of the knee rarely becomes the object of attention medical workers and their patients. Much more often we hear diseases of the joints, lower back, cervical region spine.

But it can be associated with serious health problems.

Back side of the knee

All people know where this part of the body is located, but no one understands its correct name. Wikipedia says this: back of the knee. Doctors use the name “popliteal fossa”. People without medical education, communicating on forums, call this area of the lower limb differently: popliteal knees, leg armpits, popliteal cavities, popliteal cavities. Some argue that this place has no name.

Google provides links to “knee bend” and (less commonly) “popliteal bend.” People often use such an expression as back side knee Knee is the colloquial name for the knee joint. It has front, back and side surfaces.

There is no single term; everyone is right in their own way.

Russian poet Alexey Fedorovich Merzlyakov wrote that language is a reflection of what we see around us and what exists. And since this part of the body exists, it should have a name.

Features of the structure of the popliteal fossa

The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located behind the knee joint. Above and on the sides are the tendons of the biceps femoris muscle, and below are the outer and inner heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. The skin in this area is thin and easily shifts; veins and nerves pass through the subcutaneous layer.

The length of the fossa in an adult is from 12 to 14 cm. The layer of fatty tissue contains superficial lymphatic and blood vessels. The muscles located on the border of the popliteal cavity are enclosed in peculiar capsules. If you bend your leg at the knee, you will see a gap between the muscles from behind, which has a scientific name - the gill fossa.

All structures present in the fossa are covered with subcutaneous tissue. Thanks to this design, harmful bacteria do not penetrate into the joint part.

Damage and illness

Joints are an important component of the musculoskeletal system. Every day they are exposed to heavy loads. This is why injuries to the kneecap and popliteal region often occur. This part is complex, and if a person experiences pain there, it is always difficult to determine its cause. The following diseases are associated with the area of the back of the knee joint:

Baker's cyst (popliteal hernia);
nerve damage;
inflammation of soft tissues;
muscle strain or damage;
neoplasms (lipomas, fibromas, sarcomas);
bursitis that developed due to infectious or aseptic inflammation;
injuries of intra-articular ligaments;
phlebeurysm;
damage to fatty tissue.

Pain in the hole under the knee occurs due to many reasons. If pain occurs in this area of the body, you should seek help from a surgeon or traumatologist.

To facilitate diagnosis, methods such as ultrasound, radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used. The most informative option is MRI. With its help, soft tissues are examined and the cause of pain is identified.

There is no clear and uniform name for the popliteal fossa. But medicine has studied its structure in detail, and also learned to diagnose and fight diseases associated with it. If you have pain under your knee, do not self-medicate, but immediately go to the doctor.

What is the back of the knee called?

Good question. Indeed, the posterior surface of this anatomical formation is a diamond-shaped depression and does not have a clear, unambiguous name. More often this formation is called the popliteal fossa - fossa poplitea.

Here an analogy arises in comparison with the hand and the back of the elbow. On the arm, this place is called the elbow crease or cubital fossa. Likewise, the back side of the knee is called the popliteal fossa. Both of these pits on the limbs have almost the same structure and serve as the site of the ulnar or femoral vein.

The inner bend of the knee, at least that’s what we call it and we’ve never gotten confused, as it is scientifically, alas, I don’t know ((

This is not a very wonderful question, because it is enough to understand that in some languages there are no names for many parts of the body, even the knee itself. In medicine, when denoting the same injuries in THIS area, the term popliteal fossa is used, by the way, this is so visually, and the question is essentially quite simple. For example, what is the back of the head called? No longer in the head, in the back of the head... and so on, etc. I urge you not to give pluses, because such an answer to SUCH a question is stupid, and in general, I don’t like these pluses. But about the popliteal fossa:

The reverse side of the knee is the popliteal fossa.

I was also interested in this question. In the Big Medical Dictionary, I found a definition that the popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped depression behind the knee joint.

Probably everyone knows where it is, but the vast majority still do not know what this place is called correctly. And they simply call this place - the back side of the knee, inner side knees, on the back of the knee. And everyone will be right, because that’s exactly what this place is called and nothing else. Well, there is no short term. Sometimes you can hear such a thing as a popliteal fossa.

The same question can be applied to the back of the elbow. The question is very entertaining and curious. In my opinion, the name of these places should already be invented so that everyone knows what this place on the human body is called. So to this day this whole place is called the back of the knee.

Knee's armpit. Sorry for the evil humor.)))))))))))))))))

What is the back of the knee called?

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What is the back of the knee called?

In most cases, this is what is called the back side of the knee, sometimes they say inside the knee bend, or the popliteal fossa. But here’s an interesting fact: in no language in the world is there a single word to designate the back side of the knee.

It immediately occurred to me: your back knees are dirty)

Probably everyone knows where it is, but the vast majority still do not know what this place is called correctly. And this place is simply called - the back side of the knee, the inner side of the knee, on the back side of the knee. And everyone will be right, because that’s exactly what this place is called and nothing else. Well, there is no short term. Sometimes you can hear such a concept as “popliteal fossa”.

What is the correct name for the back of the knee?

The joint system of the knee area consists of many parts, and most people do not even know what the back of the knee is called. By the word knee, many people mean the part of the leg that connects the thigh and lower leg. And although this name is common, it would be correct to call this area the knee joint. But what is on the back of the knee?

Knee structure

The knee joint connects the bones and helps you move freely. At the same time, it can easily withstand the weight of a person. Due to the fact that he performs such complex functions, it has a complex structure. Having understood the anatomy, you can understand what the inside of the knee is called. The joint consists of the following elements:

femur;
patella "patella";
internal and external condyle of the femur;
internal and external condyle of the tibia;
tibia and fibula.

The anatomical structure includes the following elements:

cartilaginous structures;
muscular apparatus;
nerve fibers;
menisci;
circulatory system;
cruciate ligaments.

Between the bones are the menisci. This name is given to the cartilaginous plates that divide the knee into two parts located on both sides. The joint itself is formed by four elements:

femoral – from above;
patella - in front;
tibia;
fibula - from below.

Cartilage is elastic, and despite constant friction, remains smooth. Their the main objective– depreciation of bones during flexion and extension. To facilitate the sliding of bones, the knee joint contains synovial fluid, which lubricates the cartilage. In addition, it saturates the cartilage with necessary substances and minerals.

Everything else is located around the bones and joints, helping the motor system function normally:

The cruciate ligaments of the knee are essential for maintaining bone stability.

Interesting! The knee is the largest joint in the human body.

At the back of the bones and kneecap are muscles and large vessels. They form a diamond-shaped depression. This area is commonly called the popliteal fossa. From above, this area is limited by the semimembranosus and biceps femoris muscles, as well as the tendon. From below it is limited by the calf muscle. The sciatic and tibial nerves pass from top to bottom. Deep in the subcutaneous layer of the popliteal fossa are the small vein and popliteal artery. The fossa itself consists of a thin layer of fatty tissue that surrounds lymphatic and blood vessels. A nerve bundle passes in front of the muscles.

Pathological causes

Diseases of the knee joint can be the following:

chronic and gradually developing;
infectious;
associated with mechanical trauma.

Despite various factors the occurrence of diseases, their symptoms are often very similar, and it is difficult to independently determine what kind of disease a person has.

Diseases resulting from mechanical injuries

Everyone has fallen or hit their knee at least once in their life. Many of these injuries ended in simple bruises or contusions. But it is not uncommon for mechanical damage to lead to serious consequences.

Ligament damage

There are only four ligaments in the knee. Their function is to connect the femur and fibula. Two ligaments are on the inside of the joint, and the other two are on the outside. When a fall or some kind of injury occurs, the ligaments rupture or sprain. In the future, even after the ligaments have fused, pain may occur. This indicates that small damaged areas remain.

If the posterior cruciate ligament ruptures, there is immediate pain, a feeling of instability and swelling in the popliteal fossa.

Important! After repeated injury, the ligament may harden, which can lead to deterioration of the musculoskeletal system.

Meniscus injury

Meniscal injuries are one of the most common knee injuries. When a meniscus tears, the torn part interferes with movement, causes pain, and can lead to joint blockage. Therefore, such an injury requires urgent medical attention.

Immediately after damage, the following symptoms appear:

sharp cutting pain;
swelling of the joint and swelling on the side of the popliteal fossa;
painful clicks.

Several hours after the injury, fluid accumulates in the joint cavity, the pain becomes duller and less severe, and weakness in the muscles is felt.

Traumatic hemarthrosis

Hemarthrosis is bleeding into a joint. Occurs due to rupture of blood vessels. Traumatic hemarthrosis develops against the background of intra-articular displacements and fractures. It can also be accompanied by injuries such as torn menisci and ligaments. The following changes are observed:

First, the joint increases slightly in volume. There is minor pain.
In the second degree, the joint greatly enlarges and becomes spherical.
In the third stage, the skin becomes blue. The joint is maximally swollen. In some cases, an increase in temperature is observed.

Based on such symptoms, an anamnesis is compiled, and the doctor decides on the need for additional examinations.

It will pass, it will pass.. anything could be.. meniscus.. cartilage.. nerve.. go see a doctor... only he will tell you exactly what’s wrong with your knee.. and not always.. but if you go to a sports doctor doctor. In general, what can I say from myself... 1. NORMAL warm-up before running (someone even talked about a 40-minute warm-up... but I don’t really know what that is... but not 5 minutes. Stretch, roll all your joints, stretch your legs normally, jog for 400 meters.. in fact, I’m too lazy to do all this myself, when I want to start running as soon as possible. 2. NORMAL cool-down.. more for stretching all the muscles and tendons from head to toe.. also very lazy after a good three-hour workout.. but it is a DEFINITELY necessary! 3. Once a week - exercises on the legs with and without iron, for endurance... info on the internet. And on the knee... at night, apply fastumgel, put on a heating pad, massage it, and so on.

When running on asphalt, the maximum load (negative) is on the knee joint, minimus and cruciate ligaments. + tendons wear out so it’s better to run through the forest/sand.

God forbid

I came across... I couldn’t walk for a month, nothing helped, only a surgeon helped, so don’t delay;)

I don’t recommend anything that will only relieve pain and not solve the problem. It’s better to use a healing ointment right away. Try Traumeel"S.
I myself have applied it to bruises, the instructions say that it also treats internal injuries and even the throat (lymph nodes), so I’m keeping my fingers crossed to get well!

Article publication date: 04/07/2016

Article updated date: 07/29/2019

If you are bothered by pain on the inside of the knee (or on the side on the inside), you need to consult a doctor with a detailed diagnosis, since “in absentia” it is impossible to accurately determine the cause of the pain.

What could be the reasons for this problem:

When a ligament or tendon is sprained or torn, sharp pain usually occurs on the side of the knee joint.

Pain syndrome of varying intensity in the popliteal fossa occurs with subchondral, synovial, parameniscal meniscus cyst, damage to the tibial nerve, and aneurysm of the popliteal artery.

In other cases, the causes of pain in the back or side of the knee are the same. There are many systemic and joint diseases that are symptomatic of pain in any area of the knee (including the back and/or side). For example, this is gonarthritis.

Causes of pain in the back and/or side of the knee	Diseases, pathologies
Injuries of periarticular and intraarticular elements (usually the pain in this case is on the side of the knee)	Tendon sprain or rupture, internal meniscus tear, knee joint fracture, bruise, pinched nerve
Diseases of the structures of the popliteal fossa (pain directly behind the knee)	Baker's cyst, bursitis, tendinitis, tendovaginitis, meniscal cyst, arthritis
Vascular diseases (discomfort may be on the back or side of the knee)	Varicose veins with thrombosis of the popliteal vein, aneurysm or embolism of the popliteal artery
Damage to the nerves of the neurovascular bundle (pain both behind and on the side)	Pinching, inflammation, swelling of the tibial nerve

Types of popliteal artery aneurysm

If pain appears on the inside or side of the knee, you need to contact a therapist, who, having made a preliminary diagnosis, will refer you to a specialist: a rheumatologist, arthrologist, orthopedist or traumatologist.

Some of the diseases listed above have dangerous consequences. For example, gonarthrosis in advanced 3rd degree leads to deformation of the joint with a pronounced limitation of mobility up to immobilization. Other diseases, for example, tendinitis, do not lead to such severe consequences.

You can get rid of pain (stop it) if you get good treatment. The sooner you visit a doctor and start treatment, the more effective it will be.

They rank first among other injuries of the knee joint. They are diagnosed mainly in people from 18 to 40 years old. Moreover, 75% of cases occur due to damage to the internal (medial) meniscus.

The main causes of knee pain on the side and inside

Injuries

Tendon rupture, meniscal injury with the development of meniscitis or meniscopathy, fractures are accompanied by sharp pain not only on the back of the knee, but also in any area. It is impossible to lean on your leg when walking, or simply bend, straighten, or make any other movement. The intensity of pain decreases after immobilization, application of ice, and novocaine blockade.

Six diseases

1. Aneurysm of the popliteal artery

With this disease, dissection of the aortic wall occurs with the formation of a sac-like protrusion. The causes of this pathology: endarteritis, atherosclerosis, congenital anomalies of the aorta.

A sharp, unbearable pain occurs, the intensity of which decreases over time, but sensitivity is impaired. Weakness appears in the leg, it freezes and goes numb. The skin turns pale to blue.

Differences from Baker's cyst are the pulsation of the swelling and its persistence after pressing.

Serious complications in the form of vascular thrombosis, gangrene, and acute arterial insufficiency in the ankle vessels cannot be excluded.

2. Inflammation of the lymph nodes of the popliteal fossa

Lymphadenitis is accompanied by swelling, local fever, severe pain when palpating the lymph nodes and straightening the knee.

3. Baker's cyst

This is a protrusion of the synovial bursa in the form of a hernia into the popliteal fossa. Appears in people after 40 years of age, often under both knees as a complication of synovitis or arthritis.

At first, unobtrusive unpleasant sensations arise. As the cyst enlarges, the vessels and nerves on the inside of the knee are compressed, the pain intensifies, and numbness, tingling or other paresthesia of the sole area occurs.

A characteristic symptom is a reduction in the hernia when pressing on it due to the reverse flow of joint fluid.

4. Avascular osteonecrosis

This is a severe non-inflammatory pathology of the joints, leading to tissue death due to impaired blood supply. Necrosis of the knee joint is characterized by pain on its inner surface.

5. Arthritis of the knee (gonarthritis)

Gonarthritis is inflammation of the knee joint of various origins. It can be infectious, rheumatoid, gouty, post-traumatic, reactive, aseptic - and that’s not all its types.

It may affect one knee (monoarthritis) or both (polyarthritis).

At first, the pain occurs periodically, intensifying with physical activity and in the evening. The knee swells, the temperature rises locally, and the skin over it turns red. As inflammation progresses, stiffness in movement, bone deformities, impaired muscle nutrition, contractures, and even complete loss of joint mobility develop.

Of all joint inflammations, knee arthritis is diagnosed in 35–52% of cases. It is detected among people of any age group, but more often in people 40–60 years old.

6. Knee tendonitis

With this pathology, the tendons of the knee become inflamed and affected. A nagging or sharp pain occurs in the affected area.

In stage 1 tendonitis, the pain is moderate, occurs only in response to normal load on the knee, and goes away with rest. At stages 2–3, it intensifies, not disappearing even after many hours of rest. A moderate restriction appears in the joint, microtears or complete rupture of the tendon are possible.

Other possible diseases

Other causes of pain on the back of the knee joint include Hoffa's disease, malignant or benign neoplasms, such as hygroma.

Treatment of pathologies that cause pain in the knee on the side and (or) on the inside

Treatment in each case is developed individually, taking into account the type, stage of the disease, and the severity of the pain syndrome. In this block we will talk about common common methods of therapy.

(if the table is not completely visible, scroll to the right)

Owner and responsible for the site and content: Afinogenov Alexey.

Your comments and questions for the doctor:

Deeva Nina Alekseevna | 03/11/2019 at 12:25

Hello. I am 70 years old and an MRI showed this condition of the knee joints - Right: Gonarthrosis on the left. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the cruciate and collateral ligaments. Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the medial and lateral menisci. Synovitis. The left one is similarly mirrored. My question is: will knee replacement help me?

Isabella | 01/04/2019 at 22:22

Hello! Since childhood, the inner parts of my knees have hurt. Most often this happens to the left leg. She was in the rheumatology department of the hospital. They did an ultrasound, MRI, and x-ray. All results were good, only the MRI results revealed minor synovitis. The doctors found nothing, and the pain only intensified and became more frequent. What to do?
Thank you in advance.

Svetlana | 03.12.2018 at 05:46

Hello, since I was 20 years old I have had a lot of clicking in my right knee, sometimes with a little pain, since the spring the inner part of the knee began to hurt on the same leg, when I get up from a chair, go up or down the stairs, at night, when I turn over on my side, I wake up with pain, In 2008 I was diagnosed with polyosteoarthrosis, for pain I take ibuprofen and diclofenac ointment, but it doesn’t last long, what can you advise, thank you

Vyacheslav | 09/17/2018 at 07:41

Hello, I am 64 years old. Previously (within a year), pain occurred in my left knee when descending from the attic of a private house down the stairs (I have a habit of going down with my back to the stairs), but it went away within 5-10-15 minutes after the onset... Yesterday I carried 2 buckets of grapes before myself and felt a sharp pain in the left side and in the bend under the knee of my left leg... When the knee is bent, there is no pain, but when the leg straightens, the pain is such that you can’t step on your leg... What could be happening? What do you recommend in my case? Thank you in advance.

Ilya | 08/17/2018 at 16:06

Hello. Started to get sick often left leg, namely on the back side of the knee, just below. The pain goes away with movement, but not always; a slight stabbing sensation remains.

Oleg | 08/07/2018 at 07:42

Good afternoon
The problem has been bothering me for a year now. Doctors cannot make a diagnosis.
The picture is normal, so is the ultrasound.
Problem with my right knee. At first, severe swelling was felt above the knee (but this was not visible visually). Now there are added unpleasant sensations on the inside of the knee. All symptoms appear when walking or standing. In the supine position everything is fine.
Now I started wearing an elastic bandage. With him it’s like there’s nothing, but without him it’s bad.
What to do where to go?

Tatyana 2.08.18 20.zh58 | 08/02/2018 at 12:00

My knees have been hurting since October. I took a lot of medications. My knees go backwards when I walk, it’s very difficult to go up and down the stairs. Doctors don’t know what it is.

Tatiana | 07/18/2018 at 06:37

Hello! My left knee hurts after working in the garden, weeding while standing, without sitting on my knees. In the evening, my leg hurt. When I sat on my knee, I heard a click and felt like some bone was moving to the side and back to its place. On the third day it appeared swelling. No fracture. The surgeon prescribed "Dolobena" gel and "Nimesil" painkiller, wear a knee brace. The initial diagnosis was synovitis. In the second week he prescribed another antibiotic. Yesterday at the appointment he wrote that there was no synovitis, no swelling. But in the evening from walking I still have swelling around the knee. The pain is aching on the side and sometimes there is pain under the cup, like a needle. It hurts to bend and straighten the knee. I am afraid that the doctor did not diagnose correctly. Perhaps synovitis is based on some other reason, maybe damage minidiscs or bundles. What do you think?
I have to go back to work soon, I’m afraid I’ll have problems with my leg.

Jonah | 07/09/2018 at 16:19

Hello, I recently started to have pain on the inside of my knee. I don’t know the reason, there were no injuries, but I walk a lot, sometimes I can walk home. When bending, the knee sometimes hurts and hurts; today I bent it several times and heard a strange crunching sound or something similar to it. I don’t know what’s wrong with my knee, this has never happened before, my knees don’t hurt. Can you tell me approximately what's wrong with the knee and why this is happening?

faith | 07/03/2018 at 06:19

Hello, after a lymphatic drainage massage, the lateral inner part of the knee began to hurt, during the day you move normally, but at night it’s impossible to straighten the knee, it’s dull strong pain, no swelling, redness, no cyanosis, only constant aching pain, anti-inflammatory ointments do not help, dimexide with novocaine and analgin too. The doctor diagnoses arthritis, the pain started to radiate to the thigh and lower leg, what should I do?

Larisa | 06/30/2018 at 12:01

Very sharp pain in the side of the knee when you sit in the lotus position. There is no pain when walking or squatting. It has not gone away for almost a year. Please advise how to get rid of the pain.

Dmitry | 06/28/2018 at 23:35

Hello. I suddenly had pain in my left knee after a football match (on the inside and outside). The pain appears after I go down or up the stairs, it is acute - it is impossible to step on it afterwards. If you don't bend your knee, then everything is fine. When walking, unless the above steps are performed first, I do not feel any pain. The pain goes away slowly (this problem lasts about 10 days). I apply diclofenac. There were no problems earlier. Maybe you can advise something (I haven’t contacted a doctor yet). Thank you in advance!

Lydia | 06/25/2018 at 07:31

I have pain on the inside of my knee when walking and when straightening the knee while sitting, especially severe pain when getting up from a chair. At rest and without stress, pain is not felt. What could it be?

Aslan | 06/19/2018 at 07:34

Good afternoon. The ball hit my leg hard and now it hurts on the left side of my right leg near the knee

Victor | 06/08/2018 at 17:16

On February 26, 2018, there was an incomplete fracture of the condyle of the right knee with all the consequences, damage to the tendons of the four capitis muscles and the lateral tendons inside the knee and the cruciates, etc., also a dislocation and sprain of the ankle! A month in a cast and another month in a splint, all this time I went to physical therapy and a bunch of other things last month I went to the Massage! The pain seems to have gone away and my hip even stopped hurting (good doctors)! Almost 4 months passed, I tried running and everything was going fine! But one day after a run, my knee started to ache on the side and inside! The pain is aching and does not go away for 3 days! I'm in a village out of reach of doctors!!! Tell me how dangerous this is! Moreover, my knee only hurts when I sit or lie down; when I walk, everything is fine!

Anton | 05/22/2018 at 15:06

Thanks for the answer. The puncture was done for the fourth time. After that, the next day, the whole knee began to hurt; the pain did not go away for almost a day; the ligaments and the knee itself hurt, and everything ached under the cup and on the side of it; I couldn’t even lean on my leg. The doctor ordered a repeat MRI to compare with the initial one, which was done a month ago. I have a question: maybe the doctor is making a puncture in the wrong place? The puncture was done above the kneecap, but it prevents me from fully extending my leg just under the kneecap from the inside and under it. Or does the puncture location not matter?

Anton | 05/18/2018 at 22:34

Hello. Two months ago I hit my right knee; the blow hit the inside of it, slightly below the kneecap. I didn’t experience any serious pain. A few days later I even squatted, did stretching exercises for my legs and bent my knees strongly on the floor. After that, after a couple of days, it became difficult to walk and swelling appeared below - on the right side of the calyx. I went to a traumatologist - an x-ray showed - there was no fracture and the doctor suggested a sprain, prescribed Airtal, or Nice tablets and cream, he said time will pass, although my knee was swollen and I had difficulty moving. 2 weeks passed - the pain did not go away and the swelling did not go away either. I decided to visit a paid traumatologist - I consulted at the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow on Litovsky Boulevard. The doctor sent me for an MRI, which showed an accumulation of synovitis fluid, swelling of the Hoffa cushion, the menisci and ligaments were not damaged. The doctor’s conclusion, who I had an MRI-Gonarthrosis 1 and there were no synovitis fractures or dislocations. The traumatologist himself, as in a regular clinic, prescribed ointments and tablets, exercise therapy, and a magnet. In response to my question, what to do with the squirt, he said that it would resolve on its own. A couple of weeks pass, but it’s still there - the knee is swollen and swollen. in a regular clinic they decide to pump out the fluid, and so on 3 times with a break of 3 weeks. The knee itself is not so swollen, although in the place below - on the right side of the cup there is still swelling, I can’t fully straighten the knee - something is in the way, it appears pain, both from the inside and from the outside, also prevents me from bending my knee; there is pain under it, from the bottom. I seem to be able to walk, but with pain in my knee. When going down the stairs, my right knee does not obey at all; I have to jump on the healthy one leg. It’s been like this for more than 2 months and doctors can’t determine the diagnosis. Help - what should I do? I can send an MRI image and a report. Best regards, Anton.

Maria | 04/28/2018 at 03:45

Hello! About 3 years ago I had a knee injury (damage to the ligaments of the knee joint). Then they put on a splint and walked for about 3 weeks with it (they didn’t take an x-ray). Afterwards, periodically, when the leg is relaxed while walking or running, the knee seems to “fall out to the side” (I don’t know how to correctly describe this phenomenon) and a sharp pain accompanies for several minutes. And now, for two weeks, my knee has been hurting when walking, bending and straightening (it seems there were no injuries, dislocations, etc.). Pain on the inside of the knee. I went to a traumatologist and had an x-ray done (they ruled out fractures and cracks). The doctor prescribed a brace for the knee, ointments and advised me to do an MRI, suspecting something with the minisk. Please tell me if I really need to go for an MRI or if there are other options for detecting the cause that are less expensive.

Good afternoon A 78-year-old woman presented with intense pain on the inside of one knee, especially when standing and walking. There are no pathologies on the X-ray, a month of pills and injections and ointments (everything that treats various pathologies of the knee) did not give any results. Now we tried aspirin 2t. 4 times a day - 5 days. It immediately became easier, but the pain remained less intense and was relieved by ichthyol ointment. What could it be? What research needs to be done to make a correct diagnosis? At the district hospital, doctors shrug their shoulders.

Bakyt | 04/10/2018 at 10:39

Hello dears!
My leg hurts, more precisely the back of my knees. WHEN I bend my legs I have a sharp pain. While sitting and lifting something heavy, there was a characteristic crunching sound, which went into the X-ray; all the bones were intact and inviolable. The doctor said (traumatologist) that the blood had pooled inside, it needs to be cleaned and put in a plaster

Afanasy | 04/09/2018 at 20:17

In May 2017 (Almost a year ago), during a football match, I felt a sharp pain in the inside of my knee, then I thought that it was a sprain. I didn’t go to the emergency room for a week, it was difficult to climb stairs and I felt pain when bending my leg, then the pain seemed to disappear and I resumed training and in the very first training the pain returned and does not go away to this day, without stress it gets better, if you don’t run in the morning and don’t play football, then there is no pain, but when playing a sharp pain appears, it can be tolerated, but not for a long time. Even an ordinary run after the bus is accompanied by pain. There were never any fractures, there were problems with the cruciate ligaments, but that was a long time ago, and there was pain on the inside of the knee. When contacting the hospital, the doctor did not take an x-ray and twisted the leg, saying that it was not a meniscus, but a normal sprain, but 11 months had already passed

Hello! I woke up at night with a piercing pain in my knee. The pain was at one point near the kneecap and the feeling was as if in this place the knee was being pierced with a hot knitting needle and at the same time it was impossible to straighten the leg. When the attack began to pass, I suddenly began to feel sick and felt like I was about to vomit. Please tell me what this could be? Thank you.

Gulinose | 02/07/2018 at 19:44

Hello! I am 29 years old. I have ostearthrosis of the knee joint with bursitis. They also diagnosed synovitis. I took ab, rheumatoid tablets (surunjan). When I was doing physical therapy, I walked on my knees for 2-3 minutes. Then I noticed how my left knee (inside) was sticking out a little. Apparently this was complicated by walking on my knees. How can I fix this? Is it possible?

The area of the back of the knee is rarely the focus of attention of healthcare professionals and their patients. Much more often we hear diseases of the joints, lower back, and cervical spine. But it can be associated with serious health problems.

Back side of the knee

All people know where this part of the body is located, but no one understands its correct name. Wikipedia says this: back of the knee. Doctors use the name “popliteal fossa”. People without medical education, communicating on forums, call this area of the lower limb differently: popliteal knees, leg armpits, popliteal cavities, popliteal cavities. Some argue that this place has no name.

Google provides links to “knee bend” and (less commonly) “popliteal bend.” People often use the expression “back of the knee.” Knee is the colloquial name for the knee joint. It has front, back and side surfaces.

There is no single term; everyone is right in their own way.

Russian poet Alexey Fedorovich Merzlyakov wrote that language is a reflection of what we see around us and what exists. And since this part of the body exists, it should have a name.

Features of the structure of the popliteal fossa

The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located behind the knee joint. Above and on the sides are the tendons of the biceps femoris muscle, and below are the outer and inner heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. The skin in this area is thin and easily shifts; veins and nerves pass through the subcutaneous layer.

All structures present in the fossa are covered with subcutaneous tissue. Thanks to this design, harmful bacteria do not penetrate into the joint part.

Damage and illness

Joints are an important component of the musculoskeletal system. Every day they are exposed to heavy loads. This is why injuries to the kneecap and popliteal region often occur. This part is complex, and if a person experiences pain there, it is always difficult to determine its cause. The following diseases are associated with the area of the back of the knee joint:

Baker's cyst (popliteal hernia);
nerve damage;
inflammation of soft tissues;
muscle strain or damage;
neoplasms (lipomas, fibromas, sarcomas);
bursitis that developed due to infectious or aseptic inflammation;
injuries of intra-articular ligaments;
phlebeurysm;
damage to fatty tissue.

Pain in the hole under the knee occurs due to many reasons. If pain occurs in this area of the body, you should seek help from a surgeon or traumatologist.

To facilitate diagnosis, methods such as ultrasound, radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used. The most informative option is MRI. With its help, soft tissues are examined and the cause of pain is identified.

Regio genus posterior

The skin is thin, less mobile than in front, folded together with subcutaneous tissue.
In the individually expressed subcutaneous tissue there are cutaneous arteries and small veins, which flow into the v. on the medial side. saphena magna, and in the middle of the area they pierce their own fascia and flow into v. saphena parva. Innervates the skin on the medial side of the n. saphenus and g. anterior n. obturatorii, the skin of the middle area - the branches of n. cutaneus femoris posterior and in the lateral sections - at the top the terminal branches of n. cutaneus femoris lateralis, and below - the branches of n. piercing their own fascia. cutaneus surae lateralis.

Rice. 144. Subcutaneous vessels and nerves of the posterior region of the knee.

The proper fascia is strong, dense, with well-defined transverse fibers, and is a continuation of the fascia lata into the fascia cruris. In the Pirogov canal, formed by the splitting of the own fascia, v is located in the lower half of the region. saphena parva, which approximately in the middle of the region pierces the anterior wall of the canal and, going around the tibial nerve from the medial or lateral side, flows into the popliteal vein. In 30% of cases v. saphena parva in the popliteal fossa is divided into two branches, one of which flows into the popliteal vein, and the second flows into one of the perforating veins of the deep femoral vein system or enters the subcutaneous tissue, goes up and medially and flows into v. saphena magna. There may be such an option when v. saphena parva, with its main trunk or its medial branch, flows into v. saphena magna or into the medial gastrocnemius vein.

Under the own fascia there is a diamond-shaped popliteal fossa(fossa poplitea), made of fiber, vessels, nerves and lymph nodes and limited from above: medially by the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles, laterally by the biceps femoris muscle; from below: laterally by the external head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the plantaris muscle, medially by the internal head of the gastrocnemius muscle. The bottom of the fossa in the direction from top to bottom consists of: fades poplitea of the femur, the posterior surface of the articular capsule of the knee joint and the popliteal muscle.

Rice. 145. Superficial muscles, vessels, nerves and tissue of the popliteal fossa.

The muscles limiting the popliteal fossa are enclosed in well-defined fascial sheaths of their own. The sheath of the biceps femoris muscle thins here and merges with the tendon of this muscle. The biceps femoris tendon attaches to the head of the fibula and has a bursa at the point of contact with the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and at the point of contact with the tig. collateral fibulare is located bursa subtendinea m. bicipitis femoris inferior. The tendon of the semitendinosus muscle is part of the superficial pes anserinus and is attached to the tibia near the tuberositas tibiae, partially intertwined with the fascia cruris. Between the superficial pes anserinus and lig. Collaterale tibiale is located bursa anserina. The tendon of the semimembranosus muscle is attached by three bundles (deep pes anserine): the anterior one - to the medial surface of the medial condyle of the tibia, the middle one - to its posterior surface, the lateral one - to the capsule of the knee joint, weaving into it and forming a lig. popliteum obliquum. Between the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle behind and the tendon of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle or the tendon and capsule of the knee joint in front is the synovial bursa. Its dimensions are 2-3 cm in length and 0.5-1 cm in width. The bag is rarely isolated. It usually communicates at the medial edge of the inner head of the gastrocnemius muscle with the medial synovial bursa of this muscle. Bursa subtendinea m. gastrocnemii medialis is located between the inner head of the gastrocnemius muscle behind and the capsule of the knee joint in front. In 2/5 cases, a slit-like opening, the dimensions of which is 0.6-1.7 cm, communicates with the posterior superomedial inversion of the knee joint, participating in the formation of a complex labyrinth of its cracks. The bursa of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle measures 2-4 cm in length and 0.5-1.5 cm in width, its lower border can be located below the level of the medial meniscus of the knee joint, posterior to the posterior inferior medial inversion. Second bag, bursa m. semimembranosi, is located at the point of attachment of the tendon of this muscle to the posterior surface of the medial condyle tibiae and covers the tendon from the anterior, medial and posterior sides. In front, the bag is adjacent to the capsule of the knee joint. Very rarely (in less than 3% of cases) the bursa can communicate through a slit-like opening with the posterior inferomedial inversion of the knee joint.

Rice. 146. Topography of popliteal vessels and nerves; back view.

M. gastrocnemius, with its internal and external heads, begins from the facies poplitea of the femur immediately above its corresponding condyles and from the capsule of the knee joint.

Between the tendon of the lateral head and the joint capsule is the bursa subtendinea m. gastrocnemii lateralis. From the facies poplitea above and partially below the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and from the joint capsule begins the plantaris muscle, m. plantaris Both muscles are directed down the shin.

Rice. 147. Topography of deep popliteal vessels and nerves; back view.

On the medial surface of the knee, with the leg bent in the knee joint, an intermuscular gap called the Jobert fossa is revealed. The fossa is limited: in front - by the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle of the thigh; behind - the superficially lying sartorius muscle with the tendons of the thin and semitendinosus muscles located behind it and the semimembranosus muscle lying in the depths; below - the medial condyle of the femur and deeper than it - the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle; above - the anterolateral edge of the sartorius muscle. If the sartorius muscle is pulled anteriorly, the upper border of the fossa is formed by the posterior edge of the adductor magnus muscle, which gradually approaches the semimembranosus muscle. Through Jaubert's fossa, bypassing the tibial nerve, it is possible to expose the popliteal artery and vein, located in the tissue at the bottom of the popliteal fossa at a depth of 2-3.5 cm, counting from the tendon of the adductor magnus muscle. The artery is usually found first and behind and lateral to it is the vein.

The relationships between the elements of the popliteal neurovascular bundle in the fossa of the same name are as follows: the most superficial (back) branches of the sciatic nerve lie - the tibial and common peroneal nerves and their branches, anterior and medial to the tibial nerve is the popliteal vein and even deeper and medial to the vein, at the bottom of the popliteal fossa, - popliteal artery.

At the superior angle of the popliteal fossa (76%), above (22%), or very rarely (2%) below this angle, the sciatic nerve divides into the tibial and common peroneal nerves.

N. tibialis, occupying in most cases a middle position, is directed downwards, gradually approaching the vascular bundle, and in the region of the lower corner of the popliteal fossa it passes in front of the plantaris muscle, in the interval between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, in front of them. Below, the nerve is located behind the popliteus muscle and in front of the tendinous arch of the soleus muscle; together with the vessels it enters the canalis cruropopliteus. N. cutaneus surae medialis from n. tibialis often begins in the space between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, less often above this level, up to the top of the popliteal fossa, where n. tibialis. This cutaneous nerve is directed down the posterior surface of the gastrocnemius muscle, initially in the groove between its heads and covered behind by v. saphena parva. It then connects to the lateral calf cutaneous nerve. The muscular branches of the tibial nerve arise at the level of the upper edge of the femoral condyles and below. One large stem is directed to the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, which enter the upper third of the muscle from the edges facing each other or from the front surface. The branch to the soleus muscle often begins with a common trunk with the branch to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. Dividing at the upper edge of the soleus muscle into 2-3 branches, the nerve enters the muscle from its posterior surface. A thin independent branch often extends to the plantaris muscle. The muscular branch to the popliteus muscle begins independently or together with other branches and enters the posterior surface of the muscle near its lower edge.

Rice. 148. Arteries of the knee of a newborn (x-ray).

N. peroneus communis in most cases runs along the medial edge of the biceps femoris tendon and in the upper part is often covered from behind by the medial edge of this muscle, then it lies between the biceps femoris tendon and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, located superficially, directly under its own fascia, and , rounding the head of the fibula from behind, it enters the canalis musculoperoneus superior, formed by the fibula and the heads of the peroneus longus muscle. The common peroneal nerve can divide into its superficial and deep branches behind the head of the fibula, at the base of the head before entering the canal and in the canal. In the popliteal fossa different levels N. departs from the common peroneal nerve. cutaneus surae lateralis and is directed to the lower leg along the posterior surface of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, located directly under the fascia cruris.

Tibial nerve is projected along a line drawn from a point located 1 cm lateral to the middle of the upper border of the region to the middle of the lower border of the region. The common peroneal nerve is projected along a line drawn above from the same point to the medial edge of the head of the fibula.

Anterior and medial to the tibial nerve is located v. poplitea, into which numerous vv. flow throughout the popliteal region. genus Below the level of the joint space of the knee joint, the popliteal vein in most cases is represented by the medial and lateral veins, into which the veins of the lower leg flow, connecting with each other in various combinations.

Rice. 149. Branching options for the popliteal and posterior tibial arteries:
1 - a. poplitea; 2 - gg. musculares; 3 - a. genus superior medialis; 4 - a. genus superior lateralis; 5 - a. genus media; 6 - a. suralis; 7 - a. genus inferior medialis; 8 - a. genus inferior lateralis; 9 - a. recurrent tibialis posterior; 10 - a. tibialis anterior; 11 - m. popliteus; 12 - a. tibialis posterior; 13 - a. peronea; 14 - rr. musculares; 15 - r. communications; 16 - gg. malleolares laterales, 17 - rr. malleolares mediales; 18 - rr. calcanei; 19 - rete calcaneum.

Along the bottom of the popliteal fossa, located almost always medial to the midline, the popliteal artery passes in front and medial of the popliteal vein. Length a. poplitea ranges from 6 to 20 cm, more often it is 12-16 cm, the diameter of the artery in hiatus adductorius ranges from 6-9.5 mm, and at the site of division of the artery into terminal branches - 5.0-8.5 mm. As a continuation of the femoral artery, the popliteal artery penetrates the posterior region of the knee through the hiatus adductorius, located in the area of the opening anterior and medial to v. poplitea and in front of the semimembranosus muscle. Upon exiting the opening of the adductor canal, the artery, accompanied by a vein, is directed downward and somewhat laterally, located behind the fades poplitea of the femur and anterior to the semimembranosus muscle. On this section of the path, the artery gradually approaches n. tibialis. Below, emerging from under the lateral edge of the semimembranosus muscle outside of it, the artery penetrates under the medial head or anteriorly and between the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle. Here, in front of the artery is the capsule of the knee joint, covering the cruciate ligaments, and on the sides - the superomedial and superolateral inversions of the knee joint; behind the artery there is a vein of the same name, and even more posteriorly or posteriorly and laterally - the tibial nerve with branches extending from it, behind and medially - the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, behind and laterally - the plantaris muscle and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. Below the level of the joint space, often accompanied by two tibial veins lying at the edges or in other positions relative to the artery, a. poplitea penetrates into the space between the popliteus muscle (in front) and the tendon arch of the soleus muscle (back), where it is usually at the level (67.7%), less often above or below the lower edge of m. soleus and below the joint space 5-7 cm is divided into aa. tibiales anterior and posterior. Sometimes the popliteal artery divides high, at the level of the joint space. In these cases, the final branches of the artery extend just as high, and the lower arteries of the knee joint may begin in these cases not from the popliteal, but from the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.

The popliteal artery is projected along a line running from a point located 1 cm medial to the middle of the upper border of the region to the middle of the lower border of the region.

10-18 branches depart from the popliteal artery. In the area of the hiatus adductorius, quite large, predominantly muscular branches often arise, ranging from 2 to 7-8. Some branches are directed upward, others - downward and penetrate the biceps femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles. Below the level of the beginning of the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius muscle (1-2 cm), the superior medial and lateral arteries of the knee depart.

A. genus superior medialis (diameter 0.5-2.5 mm) is directed to the medial side, passes over the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the medial condyle of the femur and, rounding the medial edge of the femur inward from the muscle, penetrates the anteromedial surface of the knee joint, where it anastomoses with the branches of a. genus descendens, a. genus inferior medialis, r. descendens a. circumflexae femoris lateralis and other smaller arteries, entering integral part in rete articulare genus.

A. genus superior lateralis (diameter 1-3.5 mm) is directed upward and laterally and above the lateral condyle medially from the biceps femoris tendon, bends around the outer edge of the femur and penetrates the anterolateral surface of the knee joint at the level of the upper edge of the patella, where it anastomoses with neighboring arteries and arteries of the opposite side.

A. genus media (diameter 0.8-2.3 mm, extra-articular length 1.5-3 cm) in more than % of cases begins with a common trunk with a. genus superior lateralis, rarely together with other arteries and in less than 74 cases - from the popliteal artery. The artery pierces the articular capsule and divides into branches that supply the cruciate ligaments, the epiphyses of the femur and tibia, the cartilaginous menisci of the knee joint and their ligaments, the synovial and fibrous layers of the joint capsule.

A. genus inferior lateralis begins from the popliteal artery at or below the joint space and runs laterally along the posterior surface of the popliteus muscle, anterior to the plantaris muscle and from the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle. Having gone around the joint capsule from the lateral side and medial to the lig. collaterale fibulare, the artery enters the anterolateral surface of the knee joint at the level of the lower edge of the patella.

A. genus inferior medialis (diameter 1-3.5 mm) begins, like the previous one, and runs medially along the upper edge of the popliteus muscle, anterior to the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle. Having gone around the medial condyle of the tibia under the lig. collaterale tibiale and the tendons of the superficial pes anserine, the artery enters the anteromedial surface of the knee at the inferomedial edge of the patella.

The arteries listed above are often represented by additional branches starting from the popliteal artery independently. Especially often, such branches are found in the lower medial (in 1/2 cases) and lateral (73 cases) arteries of the knee and in the middle artery of the knee.

Within the condyle of the femur, large aa always depart from the popliteal artery. surales, which enter together with the nerves into the heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, and also supply the nerve trunks and some other nearby muscles. It should be noted that greatest number branches from the popliteal artery depart in an area 2-4 cm above the joint space of the knee joint. Another such area where many branches arise from the popliteal artery and the distal femoral artery is the hiatus adductorius region. In addition to those listed, a number of small branches depart from the popliteal artery to the fiber, periosteum, muscles and nerves.

From each artery of the knee and from the innominate arterial branches a. poplitea, along their entire length, numerous branches extend to the nerves, periosteum of the femur and tibia, to the muscles and tendons located next to the arteries, ligaments, tissue of the popliteal fossa and the anterior region of the knee, as well as to the knee joint (see the latter below). In the posterior and especially in the anterior region of the knee, these arteries repeatedly anastomose with each other and with the arteries coming from the thigh (a. genus descendens, branches of aa. perforantes, a. circumflexa femoris lateralis, innominate muscle branches) and lower leg (aa. recurrentes tibiales anterior and posterior) form a rete articulare genus around the knee joint, the part of which in front of the patella is called rete patellae. These anastomoses have a large practical significance to restore blood circulation when ligating the popliteal artery.

Popliteal lymph nodes, nodi lymphatici poplitei (1-8, more often 2-5), are located in the middle (87%), upper (50%) or lower (20%) parts of the popliteal fossa and are located on both sides (73 observations) or only on one medial or lateral side (l/5 observations) from the popliteal vessels. In 1/3 of cases, in addition to nodes lying on the sides of the popliteal vessels, there are also nodes located behind or in front of the vessels. Lymph nodes located directly under the fascia or in its thickness are rare (3%) and are intercalary nodes in the path of lymph flow from the posterior collectors.

The vessels and nerves of the popliteal fossa are located in fascial sheaths, connected to each other and to the muscle fascia and surrounded by fiber. The sheath of the sciatic nerve is divided into sheaths accompanying the tibial and common peroneal nerves. These cases are fixed along the edges of the popliteal fossa to the muscle cases and divide the tissue of the fossa into superficial and deep sections. The sheath of the common peroneal nerve is connected to the sheath of the biceps femoris muscle, the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle, the capsule of the knee joint and the posterior intermuscular septum of the leg.

The sheath of the tibial nerve, in addition, is connected by a sagittal spur with the sheath of the popliteal vessels, with which it, having penetrated under calf muscle, merges in the same way as it connects with the fascial sheaths surrounding the muscles. The fascial sheath of the vascular bundle at the top is connected with the walls of the hiatus adductorius and below it with the periosteum of the fades poplitea of the femur, with the oblique popliteal ligament and, reaching the gastrocnemius, plantar and popliteal muscles, connects with the sheaths of these muscles. As a result, the fiber of the popliteal fossa is further divided into external and internal sections.

The fiber of the popliteal fossa communicates along the sheath of the sciatic nerve with the fiber of the posterior region of the thigh, along the sheath of the popliteal vessels and the tibial nerve - with the deep tissue of the posterior and anterior regions of the leg; along the fiber around the superior medial and lateral arteries of the knee - with the fiber of the anterior region of the knee; along the way v. saphena parva and n. cutaneus surae medialis - with the subcutaneous tissue of the posterior surface of the leg.

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