Leg Muscled

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Admin
Leg Muscled

Leg Muscled

The hamstrings or the hamstring group of muscles are the flexor muscles which form the bulk of the back of the thigh. The tendons of these muscles in hogs were used by butchers as strings to hang up hams for smoking, hence the name. There are 3 muscles which constitute the hamstring group. They are:

  • Biceps femoris
  • Semimembranosus
  • Semitendinosus

All 3 muscles arise from the hip bone and get inserted onto the bones of the leg, below the knee joint. Their strong tendons can be felt behind the knee.

The hamstrings traverse 2 joints, the hip and the knee joints, and so act upon both of them. Their action is antagonistic to or opposes that of the quadriceps group of muscles of the thigh. The hamstrings mainly extend the hip joint and flex the knee joint. Their action plays a fundamental role in activities like walking and running.