Popliteal vein

The popliteal vein runs through the popliteal fossa behind the knee, parallel to and typically deep to the popliteal artery. It is formed by the junction of the anterior and posterior tibial veins and the peroneal veins, and it continues upward as the femoral vein. The popliteal vein is one of the most important vessels assessed during lower extremity venous duplex ultrasound, as it is a common site for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). During the examination, the sonographer applies compression with the transducer — a normal popliteal vein collapses completely under gentle pressure, while a vein containing a thrombus will not compress fully. Augmentation of flow and Doppler waveform analysis provide additional information about venous patency.