Posterior Thigh Muscles/Posterior Thigh Compartment deep to the fascia lata, where the hamstring muscles reside, drains through lymphatic vessels to the deep inguinal lymph nodes along with the popliteal nodes which drain some additional areas of the distal lower limb. The deep inguinal nodes continue to drain into the external iliac nodes, then to the common iliac nodes, eventually draining into the cisterna chyli/thoracic duct.
Posterior Thigh Muscles
BICEPS FEMORIS LONG HEAD
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Origin – Common (conjoint) tendon from the superior medial quadrant of the posterior ischial tuberosity (with semitendinosus)
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Insertion – Majority onto the fibular head; also the lateral collateral ligament of the knee and lateral tibial condyle
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Action – Flexion of the knee, and lateral rotation of the tibia; extension of the hip joint
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Innervation – Tibial nerve (a portion of the sciatic nerve)
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Arterial Supply – Perforating (muscular) branches of profunda femoris artery, inferior gluteal artery, and the superior muscular branches of the popliteal artery
BICEPS FEMORIS SHORT HEAD
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Origin – Lateral lip of linea aspera, the lateral intermuscular septum of the thigh, and lateral supracondylar ridge of femur
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Insertion – Majority on the fibular head; and lateral collateral ligament of the knee, and lateral tibial condyle
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Action – Flexion of the knee, and lateral rotation of the tibia
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Innervation – Common peroneal nerve (a portion of the sciatic nerve)
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Arterial Supply – Perforating (muscular) branches of profunda femoris artery, inferior gluteal artery, and the superior muscular branches of the popliteal artery
SEMIMEMBRANOSUS
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Origin – Superior lateral aspect of the ischial tuberosity
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Insertion – The posterior surface of the medial tibial condyle
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Action – Extension of the hip, flexion of the knee, and medial rotation of the tibia (specifically with knee flexion)
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Innervation – Tibial nerve (a portion of the sciatic nerve)
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Arterial Supply – Perforating (muscular) branches of profunda femoris artery, inferior gluteal artery, and the superior muscular branches of the popliteal artery
SEMITENDINOSUS
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Origin – The common (conjoint) tendon from the superior medial quadrant of the posterior ischial tuberosity (with biceps femoris long head)
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Insertion – Superior aspect of the medial tibial shaft (into the distal portion of the pes anserinus along with the gracilus and sartorius muscles)
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Action – Extension of the hip and flexion of the knee, medial rotation of the tibia (specifically with knee flexion)
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Innervation – Tibial nerve (a portion of the sciatic nerve)
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Arterial Supply – Perforating (muscular) branches of profunda femoris artery, inferior gluteal artery, and the superior muscular branches of the popliteal artery.
Blood Supply and Lymphatics
The posterior thigh compartment deep to the fascia lata, where the hamstring muscles reside, drains through lymphatic vessels to the deep inguinal lymph nodes along with the popliteal nodes which drain some additional areas of the distal lower limb. The deep inguinal nodes continue to drain into the external iliac nodes, then to the common iliac nodes, eventually draining into the cisterna chyli/thoracic duct.
Nerves
The sciatic nerve exits the pelvis via the greater sciatic foramen before coursing into and through the posterior thigh, deep to the long head of biceps femoris, before bifurcating at the superior border of the popliteal fossa into the tibial and common peroneal nerve.
The posterior femoral cutaneous nerve also exits the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen. However, the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve travels superficial to the long head of biceps femoris before traveling down the midline of the posterior thigh deep to the fascia lata until it reaches the popliteal fossa.