Hamstrings Muscle Group - Anatomy & Physiology

The 3 Muscles that Make up the Hamstrings

Semimembrinosos | Semitendinosus | Biceps Femoris

Click on desired Hamstrings Muscle (above) for Anatomy & Physiology Information

Anatomy

Major Arteries:

• Inferior gluteal artery

• Popliteal artery

• Perforating arteries

Neural Innervation:

• Sciatic nerve

• Tibial nerve

Physiology

Primary Concentric Functions:

• Knee flexion

• Hip extension

Eccentric Functions:
 

• Deceleration of knee extension

Isometric Function:

• Assists dynamically stabilize the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex during functional movement
   

Antagonist:

• Quadriceps
• Iliopsoas
   

Exercises:

More Images of the Hamstrings Muscle

More Information about the Hamstrings Muscle Group

There are two primary hypothesis about the etymology of the hamstrings muscle group.  One is because ham which originally referred to the fat & muscle behind the knee as well as the tendons which have a string like appearance.

The other proposed origin of hamstrings is because the legs of ham used to be hung through a hoook through the space between the femur and the tendons located behind the knee & ham/pork used to be more common in England than beef & lamb.

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