Originating from above the knee joint are the superior medial and superior lateral genicular arteries with connections to the deep femoral artery providing collateral blood flow proximal to the knee. The popliteal artery provides numerous branches of blood supply to the structures of the knee and the lower extremity. Geniculate arteries branch at multiple levels of the knee to provide blood to the structures of the knee and contribute to collateral blood flow of the lower extremity. The popliteal artery is a continuation of the superficial femoral artery as it passes through the adductor hiatus of the adductor magnus muscle, traveling posteriorly to the knee and anterior to its accompanying vein, the popliteal vein, until it bifurcates into the anterior tibial artery and the common trunk of the posterior tibial and peroneal arteries. The superomedial border is formed by the semimembranosus muscle, the superolateral border is formed by the biceps femoris muscle, the inferomedial border is formed by the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the inferolateral border is formed by the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and the plantaris muscle. The popliteal fossa has four major borders.

The tibial nerve provides sensation to the sole, while the common peroneal nerve provides sensation to the dorsum of the foot. The tibial nerve inverts and plantarflexes the foot, while the common peroneal nerve everts and dorsiflexes the foot. These structures, from medial to lateral, are the popliteal artery, popliteal vein, tibial nerve, and common peroneal nerve. It allows for the passage of critical neurovascular structures. The popliteal fossa is a diamond-shaped space located posterior to the knee joint. The popliteal artery, found in the popliteal fossa, is the primary supply of blood to the distal lower extremity. This artery then becomes the superficial femoral artery, which at the adductor canal becomes the popliteal artery. At the level of the inguinal ligament, the external iliac artery becomes the common femoral artery. The external iliac artery is the major artery responsible for blood supply to the lower extremities.

Popliteal pulse