poplitealadj.
/pɒˈplɪtɪəl/, /ˌpɒplᵻˈtiːəl/, U.S. /pɑpˈlɪdiəl/, /ˌpɑpləˈtiəl/ Anatomy.
Designating or relating to the space at the back of the knee; of or relating to a structure (muscle, blood vessel, etc.) located in the space.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > leg > knee > [adjective] > back of
poplitic?1541
poplitical1598
poplite1689
popliteal1754
1754 tr. B. S. Albinus Explan. Anat. Fig. Human Skeleton 11 The branch N Fig. 4 of the popliteal artery, which passing forwards between the tibia and the fibula.., runs upon the membrane between these two bones.
1786 J. Pearson in Med. Communications 2 99 I began by dissecting the popliteal artery.
1808 J. Barclay Muscular Motions 335 The muscles on the rotular and popliteal aspects of the legs.
1831 J. F. South tr. A. W. Otto Pathol. Anat. 454 Morgagni..found, in a popliteal aneurysm, the nerve..almost completely destroyed.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 942/2 On the back of the thigh the hamstrings form a distinct swelling; below the middle these separate to enclose the diamond-shaped popliteal space.
1952 C. D. O'Malley & J. B. de. C. M. Sounders Leonardo da Vinci on Human Body 380 The popliteal vein and artery are shown in the popliteal fossa correctly related to one another.
1995 Daily Tel. 19 Sept. 17/1 Esoteric dimensions such as popliteal length and popliteal height—backside to a tendon just above the knee and from the same tendon to the floor—had been duly noted.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1754