Semitendinosus muscle

The semitendinosus (/ˌsɛmiˌtɛndɪˈnoʊsəs/) is a long superficial muscle in the back of the thigh. It is so named because it has a very long tendon of insertion. It lies posteromedially in the thigh, superficial to the semimembranosus.

Semitendinosus muscle
Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions. Semitendinosus labeled at bottom left.
Horizontal section of left thigh, viewed from above. Semitendinosus visible at bottom right.
Details
OriginLower Quadrangular part of tuberosity of the ischium
InsertionPes anserinus (tibia)
ArteryInferior gluteal artery, perforating arteries
NerveSciatic (tibial, L5, S1, S2)
ActionsFlexion of knee, extension of the hip joint
AntagonistQuadriceps muscle
Identifiers
LatinMusculus semitendinosus
TA98A04.7.02.035
TA22641
FMA22357
Anatomical terms of muscle

Structure

The semitendinosus, remarkable for the great length of its tendon of insertion, is situated at the posterior and medial aspect of the thigh.

It arises from the lower and medial impression on the upper part of the tuberosity of the ischium, by a tendon common to it and the long head of the biceps femoris; 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 a little below the middle of the thigh in a long round tendon which lies along the medial side of the popliteal fossa; it then curves around the medial condyle of the tibia and passes over the medial collateral ligament of the knee-joint, from which it is separated by a bursa, and is inserted into the upper part of the medial surface of the body of the tibia, nearly as far forward as its anterior crest.

The semitendinosus is more superficial than the semimembranosus (with which it shares very close insertion and attachment points). However, because the semimembranosus is wider and flatter than the semitendinosus, it is still possible to palpate the semimembranosus directly.

At its insertion it gives off from its lower border a prolongation to the deep fascia of the leg and lies behind the tendon of the sartorius, and below that of the gracilis, to which it is united. These three tendons form what is known as the pes anserinus, so named because it looks like the foot of a goose.

Innervation

A lower motor neuron exits to the sacral plexus exiting through the spinal levels L5-S2. From the sacral plexus, the lower motor neuron travels down the sciatic nerve.[1] The sciatic nerve branches into the deep fibular nerve and the tibial nerve. The tibial nerve innervates the semitendinosus as well as the other hamstring muscles, the semimembranosus and biceps femoris.[2]

Function

The semitendinosus muscle is one of three hamstring muscles that are located at the back of the thigh. The other two are the semimembranosus muscle and the biceps femoris. The semitendinosus muscle lies between the other two. These three muscles work collectively to flex the knee and extend the hip.

The muscle also helps to medially rotate the tibia on the femur when the knee is flexed and medially rotate the femur when the hip is extended. It counteracts forward bending at the hips as well.[1]

Clinical significance

Along with patellar ligament and quadriceps femoris, semitendinosus/gracilis (STG) tendon autografts has been used commonly and successfully for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.[3] Sufficient graft size could typically be obtained using either a semitendinosus/gracilis tendon double-bundle technique, or a quadruple-bundle technique using a single tendon.[4]

Additional images
  • Right hip bone. External surface.
    Right hip bone. External surface.
  • The popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries.
    The popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal arteries.
  • Back of left lower extremity.
    Back of left lower extremity.
  • Semitendinosus muscle
    Semitendinosus muscle
  • Semitendinosus muscle
    Semitendinosus muscle
  • Semitendinosus muscle
    Semitendinosus muscle
  • Muscles of thigh. Lateral view.
    Muscles of thigh. Lateral view.
  • Muscles of thigh. Cross section.
    Muscles of thigh. Cross section.
  • Muscles of thigh. Anterior views.
    Muscles of thigh. Anterior views.

See also
This article uses anatomical terminology.

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 479 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Saladin, Kenneth S. Anatomy & Physiology: the unity of form and function. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
  2. Agur, Anne M. R., Arthur F. Dalley, and J. C. Boileau Grant. Grant's Atlas of Anatomy. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2013. Print.
  3. Suydam, Stephen M.; Cortes, Daniel H.; Axe, Michael J.; Snyder-Mackler, Lynn; Buchanan, Thomas S. (2017-06-27). "Semitendinosus Tendon for ACL Reconstruction: Regrowth and Mechanical Property Recovery". Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 5 (6): 232596711771294. doi:10.1177/2325967117712944. ISSN 2325-9671. PMC 5490845. PMID 28680900.
  4. Kern, Michael; Love, David; Cotter, Eric J.; Postma, William (2016-11-21). "Quadruple-Bundle Semitendinosus-Gracilis Graft Technique for All-Inside Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction". Arthroscopy Techniques. 5 (6): e1317–e1320. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.08.001. ISSN 2212-6287. PMC 5263219. PMID 28149730.
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