Sartorius muscle

The sartorius muscle is the long obliquely oriented muscle of the anterior leg. It runs from lateral to medial fdowndown the leg anterior to the quadriceps, in the same direction as the inguinal ligament and the fibresfibers of the external oblique muscles.

Summary

• origin: anterior superior iliac spine
• insertion:: as part of the pes anserine tendon, onto the medial superior tibia
• action:
  • primary: flexes the hip and flexes the knee
  • secondary: weakly abducts and lateral rotates the thigh (like when sitting cross-legged)
• innervation:
• antagonist: individual muscular branch from the femoral nerve muscles.

History and etymology

Named after tailors, who would often sit cross-legged when working.

Fun fact

ItSartorius is the longest muscle in the body.