A branch of the tibial nerve arising in the popliteal fossa or at the upper border of the soleal arch, supplying the popliteus muscle on its posterior surface. The nerve to popliteus is the most proximal motor branch of the tibial nerve below the knee and is given off as the nerve descends through the popliteal fossa.
The nerve to popliteus is preserved in common peroneal nerve injuries but lost in tibial nerve lesions at or above the popliteal fossa. Its denervation is confirmed by EMG in tibial neuropathy workup. The popliteus receives its innervation from a branch that also supplies the tibialis posterior, so combined popliteus and tibialis posterior weakness suggests a tibial nerve lesion proximal to the knee.
Loss of nerve to popliteus from proximal tibial nerve injury producing popliteus atrophy and impaired internal tibial rotation during knee unlocking, confirmed by EMG and visible on MRI as popliteus signal change.
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