Corpus: Arcuate popliteal ligament

The arcuate popliteal ligament of the knee is part of the posterolateral ligament complex and helps to stabilize the knee joint.

The arcuate popliteal ligament is an extracapsular ligament located in the area of the popliteal fossa. It is a Y-shaped reinforcement of the posterolateral capsule, originating from the styloid process of the fibula and consisting of two limbs:

• The medial part passes over the popliteus muscle and radiates into the oblique popliteal ligament.
• The lateral part radiates into the capsule near the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle.

The arcuate popliteal ligament stabilizes the knee joint and secures the popliteus muscle to the joint capsule.

In people with a large fabella, the arcuate popliteal ligament may be missing. Its function is then replaced by the fabellofibular ligament.

• radiopaedia.org, Arcuate ligament, accessed 16/02/2023