Semitendinosus Muscle and Tendon and Semimembranosus

Prone or standing

Ask the patient to wear shorts. Palpation on the skin of the most proximal area is possible by lifting the shorts and placing the fingers distal to the ischial tuberosity. Palpation on the posterior thigh may require rolling up the shorts.

Posterior to the patient.

Please lie on your stomach (or stand). May I touch the back of your thigh? (or point to the demonstrated area). This muscle attaches near your hip, along the back of your thigh, and to the back of your knee - may I roll up your shorts and touch along this muscle? Please bend your knee (or demonstrate). (If needed, hold this position while I try to straighten your knee.)

Guide the patient to lie on his/her stomach (or stand). With the patient relaxed and with permission, place your fingers:

On the medial posterior knee for the tendon of the semitendinosus and proximal to the tendon for the semitendinosus muscle

Proximal to the knee and either medial or lateral to the tendon of the semitendinosus for the wide semimembranosus muscle

Lateral to the semitendinosus muscle in the proximal thigh for the semimembranosus muscle

Distal to the ischial tuberosity for the combined tendon of all the hamstring muscles

Guide the patient to flex the knee. For a more direct line of pull of the muscle, guide the patient to medially rotate the knee before flexing the knee. With unclear muscle activity, increase the contraction of these muscles by asking the patient to flex the knee while you provide a push on the calf in the direction of knee extension.

VH - Semitendinosus and semimembranosus