Tensor fasciae suralis muscle
Last revised by Varun Babu
on 21 Dec 2017
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Babu V, Knipe H, Tensor fasciae suralis muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 27 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-50854
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50854
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures
Last revised:
21 Dec 2017,
Varun Babu
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Varun Babu had no recorded disclosures.
View Varun Babu's current disclosures
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4 times, by
3 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Tensor fasciae suralis
The tensor fasciae suralis muscle is an uncommon accessory muscle in the popliteal fossa. It can be an unusual cause of a popliteal fossa soft-tissue swelling or mass.
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Summary
- origin: may arise from the distal aspect of any of the hamstring muscles, in the majority of reported cases it originates from the distal semitendinosus muscle
- insertion: may insert into the posterior fascia of the leg, into the medial head of the gastrocnemius, or via a long thin tendon onto the superficial aspect of the Achilles tendon
- innervation: tibial nerve
Gross anatomy
A tensor fasciae suralis is located superficially in the popliteal fossa, between the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles medially and the biceps femoris muscle laterally.
Radiographic features
A tensor fasciae suralis can usually be identified with ultrasound or MRI, which delineate an accessory muscle in the popliteal fossa, lateral to the semitendinosus tendon and posterior to the semimembranosus.
Differential diagnosis
The accessory semimembranosus muscle, similar in location but arising from the semimembranosus, has also been described.
History and etymology
According to some reports, it is thought to have been first described by R A Bergman et al. in 1873 3.
References
- 1. Sookur PA, Naraghi AM, Bleakney RR, Jalan R, Chan O, White LM. Accessory muscles: anatomy, symptoms, and radiologic evaluation. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. 28 (2): 481-99. doi:10.1148/rg.282075064 - Pubmed
- 2. Barry D, Bothroyd JS. Tensor Fasciae Suralis. Journal of anatomy. 58 (Pt 4): 382-3. Pubmed
- 3. Chason DP, Schultz SM, Fleckenstein JL. Tensor fasciae suralis: depiction on MR images. AJR. American journal of roentgenology. 165 (5): 1220-1. doi:10.2214/ajr.165.5.7572507 - Pubmed
- 4. Montet X, Sandoz A, Mauget D, Martinoli C, Bianchi S. Sonographic and MRI appearance of tensor fasciae suralis muscle, an uncommon cause of popliteal swelling. Skeletal radiology. 31 (9): 536-8. doi:10.1007/s00256-002-0496-x - Pubmed
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