Tensor fasciae suralis muscle

Last revised by Varun Babu on 21 Dec 2017

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. 

A tensor fasciae suralis is located superficially in the popliteal fossa, between the semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles medially and the biceps femoris muscle laterally. 

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.

The accessory semimembranosus muscle, similar in location but arising from the semimembranosus, has also been described.

According to some reports, it is thought to have been first described by R A Bergman et al. in 1873 3.

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