KNEE
FLEXION
Did you know that taking a step
forward uses around 200 muscles? One
muscle action that plays a central role
in walking and running is knee flexion.
Let’s take a look at this muscle action
and all of the individual muscles used.
Download Human Anatomy Atlas to
learn about more muscle actions.
KNEE CAP
KNEE
MCL
ACL OVERVIEW
The knee is one of the largest
joints in the human body. It
provides shock absorption
during walking and running, and
allows flexion and extension.
The knee’s stability is maintained
MEDIAL by different ligaments like the
MENISCUS anterior cruciate ligament (ACL),
posterior cruciate ligament
PCL LATERAL (PCL), medial collateral ligament
LCL
MENISCUS (MCL), medial meniscus, lateral
meniscus, lateral collateral
ligament (LCL).
ANTERIOR VIEW POSTERIOR VIEW
KNEE FLEXION
KNEE EXTENSION
KNEE FLEXION OVERVIEW
Knee flexion is the action of the knee bending the leg towards the buttock. The reverse of
this action, when the lower leg is straightened, is called knee extension.
Sartorius
MUSCLES Gracilis
OF Semitendinosus
KNEE Semimembranosus
FLEXION Biceps Femoris (Long Head)
Biceps Femoris (Short Head)
There are 8 main muscles
used in knee flexion. We
will take a look at each one Gastrocnemius
and their individual origins,
insertions, innervation, and
blood supply points. Achilles Tendon
SARTORIUS
The sartorius is the longest muscle in the body. It is
located in the anterior compartment of the thigh and
assists in the movements of the hip, thigh, knee, and
lower leg.
Origin: Ilium (anterior superior iliac spine)
Insertion: Medial surface of the superior shaft
of the tibia via a common tendon of the pes
anserinus
Innervation: Femoral nerve (L02 and L03)
Action: Flexion, abduction, and lateral (external)
rotation of the thigh at the hip joint; flexion and
medial (internal) rotation of the lower leg at the
knee joint
Blood supply: Profunda femoris and saphenous
branch of the descending genicular artery
GRACILIS
The gracilis is the most superficial muscle in the medial
compartment of the thigh, and assists in movements of
the hip, thigh, knee, and lower leg.
Origin: Lower half of the pubic symphysis and
upper half of the pubic arch
Insertion: Medial surface of the superior shaft of
the tibia via a common tendon of the pes anserinus
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L03 and L04)
Action: Adduction and flexion of the thigh at the
hip joint; flexion and medial (internal) rotation of
the lower leg at the knee joint
Blood supply: Obturator artery
SEMIMEMBRANOSUS
The semimembranosus is a muscle in the posterior
compartment of the thigh, and is the deepest of the hamstring
muscles.
Origin: Ischial tuberosity, sharing a common tendon with
the semitendinosus and biceps femoris
Insertion: Posterior surface of the medial condyle of the tibia
Innervation: Tibial nerve (L05–S02)
Action: Flexes the leg at the knee joint; rotates the leg
medially (inward)
Blood supply: Perforating branches of profunda femoris and
inferior gluteal artery
SEMITENDINOSUS
The semitendinosus is a muscle of the posterior compartment
of the thigh and is one of the hamstring muscles.
Origin: Ischial tuberosity, sharing a common tendon with
the semimembranosus and biceps femoris
Insertion: Medial surface of the superior shaft of the tibia
via a common tendon of the pes anserinus
Innervation: Tibial nerve (L05–S02)
Action: Flexes the leg at the knee joint; rotates the leg
medially (inward)
Blood supply: Perforating branches of profunda femoris
and inferior gluteal artery
BICEPS FEMORIS:
LONG HEAD
The biceps femoris is a hamstring muscle in the posterior
compartment of the thigh that assists in movements of the
hip, thigh, knee, and lower leg. The long head is the lateral
portion.
Origin: Ischial tuberosity, sharing a common tendon with
the semitendinosus and semimembranosus
Insertion: Lateral surface of the head of the fibula
Innervation: Tibial nerve (S01–S03)
Action: Flexion and lateral (external) rotation of the lower
leg at the knee joint; extension of the thigh at the hip joint
Blood supply: Perforating branches of profunda femoris
and inferior gluteal artery
BICEPS FEMORIS:
SHORT HEAD
The short head of the bicep femoris is the medial portion.
Origin: Linea aspera of the femur
Insertion: Lateral surface of the head of the fibula
Innervation: Common fibular (peroneal) nerve (L05–
S02)
Action: Flexion and lateral (external) rotation of the
lower leg at the knee joint
Blood supply: Perforating branches of profunda femoris
and inferior gluteal artery
GASTROCNEMIUS
The gastrocnemius is a superficial two-headed muscle of
the posterior compartment of the leg and one of the two
muscles that make up the triceps surae.
GASTROCNEMIUS
Origin: Medial and lateral heads arise from the
posterior surfaces of the respective femoral condyles
Insertion: Posterior surface of calcaneus by way of
the Achilles tendon
Innervation: Tibial nerve (S01–S02)
Action: Plantar flexion of foot, flexes leg at knee joint
Blood supply: Sural arteries, posterior tibial artery
ACHILLES
TENDON
The Achilles tendon is the thickest and
ACHILLES strongest tendon in the body. Located in
TENDON the posterior compartment of the lower
leg, it extends from the gastrocnemius and
soleus muscles and inserts on the posterior
surface of the calcaneus.
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