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Biceps femoris muscle

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr Jeremy Jones et al.

The biceps femoris muscle is one of the large muscles of the posterior thigh and a component of the "hamstrings". It has two (long and short) heads.

Summary

origin :
- tuberosity of the ischium
- linea aspera
- femur
insertion : the head of the fibula that articulates with the lateral tibial condyle
action :
- flexes knee joint
- laterally rotates knee joint (when knee is flexed)
- extends hip joint (long head only)
arterial supply :
- inferior gluteal artery
- perforating arteries
- popliteal artery
innervation :
- long head: tibial nerve
- short head: common peroneal nerve
antagonist : quadriceps

References

Article Information:

System: Musculoskeletal

Section: Anatomy

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Thigh (axial) All images from the 10th editiong of Gray's anatomy (now out of copyright and PD) except:Piriformis locationPermission: GNU FDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Posterior_Hip_Muscles_1.PNGTibialis locationPermission: GNU FDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tibialis.pngGastrocnemius locationPermission: GNU FDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gastrocnemius.pngTibialis posterior (location)Permission: GNU FDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tibialis_posterior.pngFlexor hallucis brevis (location)Permission: GNU FDLOriginal file: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Musculus_flexor_hallucis_brevis.png

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Biceps femoris - partial tear

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