Hip & Knee Joint (Posterior/Dorsal view)

The muscles illustrated here have dual functions and act in opposition to each other. The rectus femoris is a muscle that originates on the ilium and inserts via a tendon that crosses the patella and attaches to the tibia. It flexes the thigh by moving the femur anteriorly and extends the shank. The semimembranosus originates on the ishial tuberosity and inserts on the medial surface of the femur and an adjacent portion of the tibia. It extends the thigh by moving the femur posteriorly and flexes the shank. Return to muscle function Return to tutorial