The Visible Human: Transverse Section Through the Thigh

You selected: hamstring

The semimembranous, semitendinous and biceps femoris muscles form the hamstring. This muscle runs along the back of the leg, from behind the knee to below the buttocks. These three muscle both flex the knee (bend it), and extend the hip (kick the leg behind the body). These muscles contract very strongly when bending forward to keep you from falling forward. You can feel the tendon of the semimembranous muscle by placing a hand over the inside of the leg, just above and behind the knee, while bending the knee. The tendon for the biceps femoris muscle may be felt in the same region on the outside of the leg.

Key points in this image
adductor magnus | gracilis | sartorius | rectus femoris | hamstring | vastus lateralis | vastus medialis | vastus intermedius |
Click on the image to learn more about specific features. Alternatively you may view this image with all annotations, or with the introductory comments.

Return to your starting page.


Information
Module Name: a_vm2035
Module Title: The Visible Human: Transverse Section Through the Thigh
Image Info: Transverse section through the leg (#2035), Visible Human Project
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: January 16th, 1997

Created with Annotation 1.0