Pictured above is the popliteus muscle. It unlocks and bends your knee. It attaches to the outer portion of the back of your thigh bone very near your knee and to the upper portion of the inside rear of your largest lower leg bone (the tibia). If this muscle locks up it will feel like a tight ball behind the knee.
If this muscle regularly locks up on you, then you need to work on your quads EVERY DAY. Your quads extend (straighten) your knee, and the popliteus flexes your knee. The quads are MUCH stronger than the popliteus (and all the other knee flexors, for that matter). Be sure you check the other muscles that attach to the knee when dealing with popliteus trouble.
The muscles are layered, showing how some of the muscles are covered by the others. All of the muscles are see-through so that you can appreciate the location and size of each muscle relative to the others.
Click here for a list of all the muscles.
Muscles that cross or attach to the hip or thigh bone (femur) and attach below the knee joint and DO NOT attach to the knee cap (patella)
Lower Leg
The following muscles attach across or below the knee.
Click the appropriate link for your interest.
Muscles that cross the knee
Muscles that pass or attach between the knee & ankle
- Gastrocnemius
- Popliteus
- Plantaris
- Soleus
- Peroneus Longus
- Peroneus Brevis
- Flexor Digitorum Longus
- Flexor Hallucis Longus
- Posterior Tibialis
- Anterior Tibialis
- Extensor Digitorum Longus
- Extensor Hallucis Longus
Good luck working out those tight knots.
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