The word Popliteal refers to any of the anatomical structures located in the back of the knee, which can include:
Popliteal Artery - The Popliteal artery, through numerous smaller branches, supplies blood to the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf.
Popliteal Vein - Carries the blood from the knee joint and muscles in the thigh and calf back to the heart.
Popliteal Fossa - A space or shallow depression located at the back of the knee-joint. The bones of the Popliteal Fossa are the femur and the tibia.
Popliteal Lymph Nodes – Lymph nodes located within or around the back of the knee. They are generally small in size, and some six or seven in number and are embedded in the fat contained in the Popliteal Fossa.
Popliteal Nerves – Either of two branches of the sciatic nerve in the lower part of the thigh; the larger branch continues as the tibial nerve, and the smaller branch continues as the Peroneal nerve.
Popliteal Tendon Transposition - A surgical technique for reconstruction of the caudal cruciate ligament.
What Is Popliteal Pterygium syndrome?
Popliteal Pterygium syndrome is a condition that can affect the development of the skin, face, and genitals. People born with this disorder are generally born with a cleft, a cleft palate, or even both. Individuals who are affected by the disorder may have depressed areas near the middle of the lower lip, which can appear to be moist. This is because of the presence of mucous and salivary glands located there. In some cases, people with Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome can even be missing teeth.
Another condition that can be caused by Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome is webs of extra skin that develop on the backside of the knee, which can inhibit mobility, unless surgically removed. Individuals who have the syndrome may also have webbing of the toes or fingers, or could have tissue connecting the upper and lower jaw, or eyelids. People affected by Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome may have abnormal genitals, which could also include smaller external genital folds in females. Males affected by the syndrome may have undescended testicles, or a scrotum that is divided into two separate lobes.
People affected by Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome who have cleft lip and/or palate, may have a higher risk of delayed language development, disabilities in learning, or other mild cognitive problems that can hinder development. Average IQ’s of those who have Popliteal Pterygium Syndrome typically do not have lower IQ’s than that of the population.