Final answer:
The Popliteal Fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located at the back of the knee joint, bordered by the hamstrings and the gastrocnemius muscles, containing vital blood vessels and nerves.
Step-by-step explanation:
Popliteal Fossa Shape and Location
The Popliteal Fossa is a diamond-shaped depression located at the back of the knee joint. It is bordered at the top by the hamstrings muscles: the biceps femoris on the lateral side and the semimembranosus and semitendinosus on the medial side. The bottom of the fossa is formed by the two heads of the gastrocnemius muscle.
Within the popliteal fossa, several important structures are found, including the popliteal artery, popliteal vein, and tibial and common fibular nerves. The popliteal fossa is crucial because it allows for the passage of nerves and vessels that supply the lower leg. A comparison can be made with other depressions in the body, such as the intercondylar fossa, which is a deep depression on the posterior side of the distal femur separating the medial and lateral condyles; and the olecranon fossa, which accommodates the olecranon process when the elbow is fully extended.