hamstring

The hamstrings group consists of three muscles:

The hamstrings:

  1. flex the knee, pulling the leg backwards
  2. extend the hip joint to pull the trunk backwards from a stooping position
  3. support the pelvis on the femur.


All three arise from the ischial tuberosity and biceps ("two heads") has a second origin from the linea aspera on the back of the shaft of the femur.

These muscles insert below the knee; biceps into the head of the fibula and semimembranosus and semitendinosus into the tibia.

They are supplied by the sciatic nerve.

Related Tutorial.- The thigh