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Semitendinosus

Contents

Anatomy

 

Semitendinosus - anterior view
Semitendinosus - posterior view
Semitendinosus - anteromedial view
Semitendinosus - tibial insertion

General information

  • This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page

Position

  • Superficial

Origin

  • Tuberositas ischiadicum
    • Via the common tendon with biceps femoris

Insertion

  • Pes anserinus
  • Body of tibia
    • Proximal and medial surface
  • Deep fascia of the calf

Main function

  • Knee
    • Flexion
  • Hip
    • Extension
  • Pelvis
    • Posterior tilt

Secondary function

  • Knee
    • Medial rotation
  • Hip
    • Medial rotation

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • L5-S2
  • Peripheral
    • Sciatic nerve

Arterial supply

  • Ingerior gluteal artery
  • Deep part of the femoral artery
  • Popliteal artery

Palpation

  • Patient position
    • Prone
  • Place a chair or similar object on the treatment bench that the patient can use to rest their foot on, so that the knee is flexed
  • Place your hand posteromedially and distally on the patient's thigh
  • Use your opposite hand to give resistance towards the patient's heel, so that the patient is giving force towards flexion
  • Feel for the contraction of the muscle

Strength test

  • Patient position
    • Prone
  • Fixate the patient's thigh down towards the bench with your one hand
  • Bend the patient's knee to about 60°
  • Position the hip so that it is in slight medial rotation
  • Position the knee so that too is in slight medial rotation
  • Give resistance to the patient posteriorly and distally at the patient's calf, just proximal to the ankle
    • The pressure is in extension direction of the knee so that the patient is giving force towards flexion of the knee

Weakness of

  • In weakness, the patient may have problems holding the foot in a rotated position which is the starting point of the test
  • Weakness of the medial hamstrings will diminish the medial stability, so that during gait there may be a valgus positoin of the knee, also called 'knock-knee'
  • If all of the hamstrings group is weak, this will lead to the knee being hyperextended
  • In bilateral weakness of both hamstrings, the pelvis will compensate by tilting anteriorly, so that the patient has a lordosis of the lower back