Oblique popliteal ligament - an anatomical study

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Knee biomechanics

Background:

• The oblique popliteal ligament is a key structure in the posterior knee.
• Understanding its anatomy is crucial for surgical procedures and injury assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anatomical dimensions and relationships of the oblique popliteal ligament.
• To characterize its proximal expansion and its angle relative to the joint.

Main Methods:

• Dissection of eleven cadaver knees focusing on posterior knee anatomy.
• Measurement of the oblique popliteal ligament's dimensions using needles and calipers.
• Calculation of angles using ImagePro Plus software.

Main Results:

• The oblique popliteal ligament measured 7.3 mm thick at origin, 33.6 mm in length, with a 7.4 mm distance to the tibial plateau.
• The proximal expansion measured 39.2 mm long and 7.8 mm thick.
• Angles measured were 34.8° to the tibial plateau and 32.2° with its proximal expansion.

Conclusions:

• The oblique popliteal ligament is a thick structure originating from the semimembranosus muscle.
• It forms an acute angle crossing the popliteal fossa, sometimes featuring proximal expansion.