The popliteal fossa is diamond-shaped and its borders are formed by the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles superiomedially, the biceps femoris muscle superiolaterally, the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle inferiomedially, and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle inferiolaterally. It contains the popliteal artery and vein, the tibial and common peroneal nerves, and is covered by subcutaneous tissue and skin.

The popliteal artery is the continuation of the superficial femoral artery after it passes through the adductor canal, an opening in the adductor magnus muscle, in the lower thirds of the thigh. It courses downward and laterally to the midline of the knee between the two condyles of the femur, into the popliteal fossa.

The popliteal artery has three segments: suprageniculate (above knee), midpopliteal (behind knee), and infrageniculate (below knee). Exposure to each segment of the popliteal artery is distinct.

The popliteal artery has superior and inferior genicular branches, which provide blood supply to the tissues surrounding the knee joint and provide important collaterals when there are occlusions of the superficial femoral or popliteal artery.

Below the knee, the popliteal artery branches into the anterior tibial artery, followed by the peroneal branch about 2–3 cm lower, which itself then branches into the peroneal and posterior tibial arteries.

The anterior tibial artery pierces the upper part of the interosseous membrane, courses in front of the membrane, under the extensor muscles of the anterior muscle compartment, and distally becomes the dorsalis pedis artery.

The tibioperoneal trunk is the direct continuation of the popliteal artery and, after approximately 3 cm, branches to form the peroneal artery laterally and the posterior tibial artery medially. The peroneal and posterior tibial arteries lie in the deep posterior compartment of the leg posteriorly of the fibula and tibia, respectively.

The posterior tibial artery continues directly to the ankle and lies superficially posterior to the medial malleolus, while the peroneal artery branches above the ankle to form collaterals to the dorsalis pedis and plantar branches of the posterior tibial artery in the foot.

The popliteal vein lies posterior to the artery (more laterally superiorly to more medially inferiorly). The tibial nerve is lateral and posterior to the artery.