Popliteus Tendon

The lateral aspect of the knee joint is examined by asking the patient to rotate the leg internally. From anterior to posterior, the structures to be evaluated are the distal aspect of the iliotibial band, the external femorotibial joint space with the lateral meniscus, the lateral collateral ligament, the popliteus tendon and the superior tibiofibular joint. 

Just deep to the proximal part of the lateral collateral ligament, the popliteus tendon can be imaged on coronal US planes as an oval structure located in its bony groove (Fig. 14.34). Depending on the incidence of the US beam, substantial anisotropy may be evident in the popliteus tendon (De Maeseneer et al. 2002). The US examination of the lateral aspect of the knee should be completed with an evaluation of the superior tibiofibular joint. Transverse and coronal US scans obtained over the anterior aspect of the fibular head are adequate for this purpose. 

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