Accessory semimembranosus muscle
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Knipe H, Accessory semimembranosus muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-59070
rID:
59070
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Revisions:
2 times, by
2 contributors -
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The accessory semimembranosus muscle is a rare accessory muscle of the posterior compartment of the thigh. It arises from the distal aspect of the semimembranosus muscle belly and courses through the popliteal fossa between it and the semitendinosus muscle medially and the biceps femoris laterally. It does not have an osseous insertion, instead attaching to the proximal medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle 1.
Differential diagnosis
This muscle can be difficult to differentiate from the tensor fasciae suralis 2.
References
- 1. Stoane JM, Gordon DH. MRI of an accessory semimembranosus muscle. (1995) Journal of computer assisted tomography. 19 (1): 161-2. Pubmed
- 2. Sookur PA, Naraghi AM, Bleakney RR, Jalan R, Chan O, White LM. Accessory muscles: anatomy, symptoms, and radiologic evaluation. (2008) Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 28 (2): 481-99. doi:10.1148/rg.282075064 - Pubmed
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