The popliteus is a muscle within the deep compartment of the posterior leg. It lies behind the knee joint, forming the base of the popliteal fossa. Attachments: Originates from the lateral condyle of the femur and the lateral meniscus of the knee joint. It inserts onto the proximal tibia, immediately above the origin of the soleus muscle. Actions: Lateral rotation of the femur relative to the tibia. This ‘unlocks’ the knee joint so that flexion can occur. Innervation: Tibial nerve Blood supply: Popliteal artery By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025) Fig 1Muscles in the deep layer of the posterior leg. Pro Feature - 3D Model You've Discovered a Pro Feature Access our 3D Model Library Explore, cut, dissect, annotate and manipulate our 3D models to visualise anatomy in a dynamic, interactive way. Learn More Print Article Rate This Article