The muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh are collectively known as the hamstrings. They consist of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus, which form prominent tendons medially and laterally at the back of the knee.
As group, these muscles act to extend at the hip, and flex at the knee. They are innervated by the sciatic nerve (L4-S3).
In this article, we shall examine the anatomy of the muscles in the posterior thigh – their attachments, actions and clinical correlations.
Muscles in the Posterior Compartment
The muscles located within the posterior compartment of the thigh are the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus.
Note: The hamstring portion of the adductor magnus has a similar action to these muscles, but is located in the medial thigh.