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semimembranosus and semitendinosus

Author

Charlotte Adams

Updated on August 16, 2026

The semitendinosus is more superficial than the semimembranosus (with which it shares very close insertion and attachment points). However, because the semimembranosus is wider and flatter than the semitendinosus, it is still possible to palpate the semimembranosus directly.

What are the semimembranosus and semitendinosus?

Collectively semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris are referred to as the hamstring muscles. Semimembranosus (along with semitendinosus) occupies the medial aspect of the posterior thigh. It is a relatively long muscle that spans the full length of the thigh – from the hip to the knee.

Where are the semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscle located?

Description. Semimembranosis is one of a group of muscles called the Hamstrings. It is located on the posteromedial side of the thigh deep to Semitendinosus and medial to the Biceps Femoris.

What is the function of the semimembranosus?

Function: The primary function is flexion of the knee. With the knee semi-flexed, the muscle functions as medial rotators of the lower leg on the knee. With the hip extended, the semi-hamstrings are lateral rotators of the thigh.

What are the 4 hamstring muscles?

The hamstrings are a group of four muscles: long head of the biceps femoris, short head of the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus. Each hamstring crosses two joints—the hip and the knee.

What action does the semitendinosus do?

Function. Attaching between the hip and leg, the semitendinosus produces movements on both hip and knee joints producing thigh extension, internal rotation, pelvis stabilization (hip joint), leg flexion and internal rotation (knee joint).

What type of muscle is semimembranosus?

The semimembranosus muscle is one of the hamstring muscles in the posterior compartment of the thigh and accompanies the semitendinosus muscle in the medial aspect of the posterior thigh. It is named for its flattened membranous tendon of its ischial attachment.

Where is the semimembranosus muscle?

The semimembranosus muscle is one of the three muscles that make up the hamstring. It is found on the back of the thigh and runs from the base of the pelvis (specifically the tuberosity of the ischium) to the back of the tibia, one of the bones that make up the lower leg.

What are the three hamstring muscles?

The three hamstring muscles are:
Biceps femoris, closest to the outside of your body. Semimembranosus, closest to the middle of your body. Semitendinosus, between the semimembranous and the biceps femoris.

What exercise works the semimembranosus?

For the semitendinosus and the semimembranosus, the Romanian deadlift was the best exercise for the eccentric movement. However for the concentric movement the glute ham raise was shown to be the best [3].

Why does my semimembranosus hurt?

Causes of pain in this area include medial meniscal tears, osteoarthritis, tendinopathy or bursitis of the pes anserine, popliteal (baker’s) cysts, strain of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, popliteus muscle strain, medial collateral ligament sprain, and semimembranosus tendinopathy (SMT), among others.

How do you treat a semimembranosus injury?

To speed the healing, you can:
Rest the leg. Ice your leg to reduce pain and swelling. Compress your leg. Elevate your leg on a pillow when you’re sitting or lying down.Take anti-inflammatory painkillers. Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor/physical therapist recommends them.

How do you strengthen your semimembranosus?

Hamstring curl
Lie on your stomach with your knees straight. Lift the foot of your affected leg by bending your knee so that you bring your foot up toward your buttock. Slowly move your leg up and down.Repeat 8 to 12 times.When you can do this exercise with ease and no pain, add some resistance.

How do you stretch the semimembranosus muscle?

Perform this stretch standing and facing a table or chair. Keeping the chest up and the back straight, bend forward at the hips until a stretch is felt in the back of the thigh. Perform the stretch for a total of 10 repetitions.

How do you treat semitendinosus pain?

How are hamstring injuries treated?
Remember the acronym R.I.C.E.: rest, ice, compression and elevation.Stop your activity, or at least do fewer activities until the soreness is gone.Ice the area about 24 to 48 hours after your injury. Use a compression wrap or elastic thigh sleeve.

What is semitendinosus muscle?

The semitendinosus muscle is a member of the posterior component of the thigh which also includes the biceps femoris and the semimembranosus muscles.

Do squats work hamstrings?

Even exercises that you’d traditionally consider quad-dominant moves, like squats or lunges, can also work your hamstrings too. That’s because when you lunge or squat, your hamstring muscles have to turn on to keep your leg stable and to help you stand back up, he says.

Are calves a hamstring?

The hamstring muscles are the muscles behind your thighs. These muscles help in flexion and extension of the trunk and the hips. The hamstring muscle also allows the knee joint to rotate and flex. The calf muscles are situated just below the knee, towards the back.

Is semitendinosus deeper than semimembranosus?

These three muscles compose the hamstring muscle complex. The semimembranosus muscle lies deeper to the semitendinosus muscle and is the most medial muscle of the posterior compartment of the thigh.

Where is the semimembranosus muscle?

The semimembranosus muscle is one of the three muscles that make up the hamstring. It is found on the back of the thigh and runs from the base of the pelvis (specifically the tuberosity of the ischium) to the back of the tibia, one of the bones that make up the lower leg.

What is the proper name for the hamstring muscle?

The semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris muscles comprise the hamstring muscle group.

Is the semitendinosus a hamstring muscle?

The semitendinosus is one of the three muscles in the hamstring muscle group. The other two are the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. The semitendinosus is the longest of these three muscles, and it runs along the back of the thigh.