Anatomy Atlases: Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 7. Lower Limb

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Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section: Section 7. Lower Limb

Plate 7.16

Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D., Jean J. Jew, M.D., and Paul C. Reimann, B.S.
Peer Review Status: Externally Peer Reviewed

Upper Left Quadrant	Lower Left Quadrant	Lower Right Quadrant	Upper Right Quadrant
1. Medial patellar retinaculum 2. Medial condyle of tibia	3. Anserine bursa 4. Tendon m. sartorius(a) 5. Tendon m. semimembranosus 6. Tendon m. gracilis(a) 7. Great saphenous v. 8. Tendon m. semitendinosus(a) 9. Lateral sural cutaneous nerve 10. Gastrocnemius m. (medial head)	11. Medial sural cutaneous and tibial nerves 12. Popliteal v. and a. 13. Plantaris m. 14. Popliteus m. 15. Gastrocnemius m. (lateral head) 16. Head of fibula 17. Articular facets of tibia and fibula 18. Common peroneal nerve 19. Tendon m. biceps femoris	20. Lateral condyle of tibia (Gerdy's tubercle) 21. Lateral patellar retinaculum 22. Tibia 23. Patellar ligament

This section passes through the tibia (22) just below the knee joint and cuts the head of the fibula (16). It passes through the lateral (20) and medial (2) condyles of the tibia and the articular facets of the tibia and fibula (17). The anserine bursa (3) is identified. The tendons of semitendinosus (8), gracilis (6), and sartorius (4) form the pes anserinus (conjoined) tendon, which is the tendinous expansion of these muscles at the medial border of the tuberosity of the tibia.

The anserine bursa is a fairly large bursa that ties behind the tendons of sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinous muscles and the tibial collateral ligament. This bursa communicates with the bursa of the sartorius muscle, which is located between the tendon of sartorius (4) and the tendons of semitendinosus (8) and gracilis (6).

The head of the fibula (16) is the rounded expansion that produces the lateral prominence in the region of the knee posteroinferior to the lateral condyle of the tibia. It presents medially a circular "articular surface of the head," directed anteroproximad and articulating with the lateral condyle of the tibia. The circumference of the facet gives attachment to the articular capsule of the tibiofibular articulation. Posteriorly, the head rises to a pointed apex that affords attachment for the arcuate popliteal ligament and, on the lateral side, part of the biceps tendon. The posterior aspect of the head provides an attachment site for the soleus muscle, and the lateral aspect provides an attachment site for the fibular collateral ligament and peroneus longus muscle; from the anterior aspect of the head, the extensor digitorum longus muscle arises.

(a)4, 6, and 8 form the pes anserinus (goose's foot) tendon.

(b)Pierre N. Gerdy (1797-1856) was a Parisian surgeon.

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