Hamstring muscle group

The hamstring muscle group comprises three skeletal muscles located in the posterior compartment of the thigh: the biceps femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus. These muscles originate from the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis and insert on the tibia and fibula bones of the lower leg. The hamstrings are innervated by the sciatic nerve and function primarily to flex the knee and extend the hip, enabling fundamental human movements such as walking, running, and climbing. While not a pharmaceutical target, hamstring tendons are clinically significant in orthopedic medicine, as they can be harvested as autografts for knee ligament reconstruction surgery.

Other names

Posterior thigh muscleshamstrings