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The semitendinosus is a fusiform muscle located in the back of the thigh. It is one of three hamstring muscles, alongside the semimembranosus and biceps femoris. The semitendinosus is responsible for various functions, including thigh extension, internal rotation, pelvis stabilization, and leg flexion. The muscle is also involved in knee flexion, which is the process of bending the knee. The semitendinosus is prone to injuries, ranging from mild strains to severe tears, and is susceptible to overuse, especially in athletes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Type | Skeletal |
| Location | Back of the thigh |
| Function | Internally rotates the thigh, extends the thigh, flexes the leg, internally rotates the leg, stabilizes the pelvis, stabilizes the knee |
| Innervation | Tibial division of the sciatic nerve |
| Blood Supply | Femoral artery, Internal iliac artery, Popliteal artery |
| Tendons | Pes Anserinus (shared with gracilis and sartorius muscles) |
| Related Injuries | Strains, Tears, Pes anserine bursitis |
| Related Exercises | Knee flexion, Nordic hamstring curl, Squats |
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What You'll Learn
The semitendinosus is a hamstring muscle
The semitendinosus is a long, superficial muscle, so named because it has a very long tendon of insertion. It is situated at the posterior and medial aspect of the thigh, arising from the lower and medial impression on the upper part of the tuberosity of the ischium. It also arises from an aponeurosis, which connects the adjacent surfaces of the two muscles to the extent of about 7.5 cm from their origin. The muscle is fusiform and ends just below the middle of the thigh in a long, round tendon, which lies along the medial side of the popliteal fossa.
The semitendinosus has two functions related to the hip joint when its tibial attachment is fixed. When the body is in the anatomical position, it internally rotates the thigh. If the trunk is flexed anteriorly, the muscle extends the thigh. When the ischial attachment is fixed, the semitendinosus has two functions related to the knee joint. When the lower limb is in the anatomical position, it flexes the leg. If the knee is semiflexed, the semitendinosus internally rotates the leg, acting together with all the hamstring muscles.
Injuries to the semitendinosus muscle can range from mild strains to more severe tears. These injuries can occur as a result of sudden movements, overstretching, or overuse of the muscle.
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It is located in the back of the thigh
The semitendinosus muscle is located in the back of the thigh. It is one of three hamstring muscles, alongside the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. The semitendinosus is a long, superficial muscle, remarkable for its very long tendon of insertion. It is situated at the posterior and medial aspect of the thigh, with its tendon lying along the medial side of the popliteal fossa.
The muscle fibres descend in the posterior thigh, giving way to a cord-like tendon around the middle of the thigh. The semitendinosus tendon takes an inferomedial course, passing posteriorly to the medial condyle of the femur and laterally to the medial condyle of the tibia. As it passes the medial condyle, it partially blends with the tendons of the gracilis and sartorius muscles, forming a common insertion tendon called the pes anserinus.
The pes anserinus, Latin for 'Goose's Foot', refers to the conjoined tendons of the gracilis, semitendinosus, and sartorius muscles. It lies superficial to the tibial insertion of the medial collateral ligament of the knee. The semitendinosus is more superficial than the semimembranosus, although the latter is wider and flatter, allowing for direct palpation.
Injuries to the semitendinosus muscle can range from mild strains to more severe tears. These injuries can occur due to sudden movements, overstretching, or overuse of the muscle. Physical examination is crucial in assessing the semitendinosus muscle, including evaluating its strength and flexibility.
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It is a long, superficial muscle
The semitendinosus is a long, superficial muscle in the back of the thigh. It is one of three hamstring muscles, the others being the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. The semitendinosus is situated between the other two muscles.
The muscle is fusiform and ends just below the middle of the thigh in a long, round tendon. This tendon lies along the medial side of the popliteal fossa, then curves around the medial condyle of the tibia and passes over the medial collateral ligament of the knee joint. The semitendinosus is inserted into the upper part of the medial surface of the body of the tibia.
The semitendinosus is more superficial than the semimembranosus, although the two muscles share very close insertion and attachment points. The semimembranosus is wider and flatter than the semitendinosus, which is how it can be palpated directly. At its insertion, the semitendinosus gives off from its lower border a prolongation to the deep fascia of the leg. It lies behind the tendon of the sartorius and below that of the gracilis, to which it is united.
The semitendinosus is innervated by the tibial division of the sciatic nerve. It is supplied by branches from three large arterial sources: the femoral artery, the internal iliac artery, and the popliteal artery. The function of the semitendinosus depends on the position of the body parts it moves and which of its attachments is fixed. When the tibial attachment is fixed, the muscle internally rotates the thigh and extends the thigh when the trunk is flexed anteriorly. When the ischial attachment is fixed, the muscle flexes the leg and internally rotates the leg when the knee is semiflexed.
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The muscle is fusiform and ends in a long, round tendon
The semitendinosus muscle is a long, superficial muscle in the back of the thigh. It is fusiform and ends a little below the middle of the thigh in a long, round tendon. This tendon lies along the medial side of the popliteal fossa and then curves around the medial condyle of the tibia.
The tendon of the semitendinosus muscle is remarkable for its great length. In fact, the muscle is named semitendinosus because of the length of its tendon of insertion. The term 'semi' refers to the fact that almost half of the muscle's mass is made of a rounded tendon.
The semitendinosus tendon takes an inferomedial course, passing posteriorly to the medial condyle of the femur and laterally to the medial condyle of the tibia. As it passes the medial condyle, it partially blends with the tendons of the gracilis and sartorius muscles. These three tendons form what is known as the pes anserinus, which means 'goose's foot' in Latin.
The pes anserinus inserts into the medial surface of the proximal end of the tibia. The semitendinosus is inserted into the upper part of the medial surface of the body of the tibia, nearly as far forward as its anterior crest.
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It is one of three muscles that comprise the pes anserinus
The semitendinosus muscle is one of three muscles that comprise the pes anserinus, or "goose's foot" in Latin. The other two muscles that form part of the pes anserinus are the gracilis and sartorius muscles. The pes anserinus is so-called because the conjoined tendons of these three muscles resemble the foot of a goose.
The semitendinosus is a long, superficial muscle in the back of the thigh. It is remarkable for the great length of its tendon of insertion, which is almost half of its mass. The muscle is fusiform and ends just below the middle of the thigh in a long, round tendon. This tendon lies along the medial side of the popliteal fossa and then curves around the medial condyle of the tibia.
The pes anserinus is located where the gracilis, semitendinosus, and sartorius tendons blend together and form a common insertion tendon. This tendon inserts into the medial surface of the proximal end of the tibia. The pes anserinus is separated from the medial collateral ligament of the knee by the anserine bursa.
Injuries to the semitendinosus muscle can range from mild strains to more severe tears. These injuries can occur as a result of sudden movements, overstretching, or overuse of the muscle. A common ailment that can develop from overuse is pes anserine bursitis, where the bursa underlying the tendons of the three muscles becomes irritated, causing chronic knee weakness and pain.
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Frequently asked questions
The semitendinosus muscle is one of three hamstring muscles, located at the back of the thigh. It is a long, superficial muscle, remarkable for the great length of its tendon of insertion.
The function of the semitendinosus muscle depends on the position of the body parts it moves and which of its attachments is fixed. When the body is in the anatomical position, it internally rotates the thigh. If the trunk is flexed anteriorly, this muscle extends the thigh. The semitendinosus also helps to stabilise the pelvis and the knee.
The semitendinosus muscle can be strengthened through exercises such as Nordic hamstring curls, knee flexion, and other strength-training exercises.
