Hamstrings — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Hamstrings is located in the posterior thigh. Knee flexion and hip extension. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.

Hamstrings highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Hamstrings highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Hamstrings at a glance
LocationPosterior thigh
Main functionKnee flexion and hip extension.
Layersuperficial muscles
Key fact 1The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.
Key fact 2The hamstrings flex the knee joint.
Key fact 3The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

Where is the Hamstrings located?

The Hamstrings is located in the posterior thigh.

The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.

What does the Hamstrings do?

Knee flexion and hip extension.

The hamstrings flex the knee joint.

What to know for exams

  • The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.
  • The hamstrings flex the knee joint.
  • The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

Link the hamstrings to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Hamstrings

The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh. The hamstrings flex the knee joint. The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Hamstrings anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Hamstrings located?

    Reveal answer

    Posterior thigh

  2. What is the main function of the Hamstrings?

    Reveal answer

    Knee flexion and hip extension.

  3. Give one key fact about the Hamstrings.

    Reveal answer

    The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.

  4. Give another key fact about the Hamstrings.

    Reveal answer

    The hamstrings flex the knee joint.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Hamstrings?

    Reveal answer

    The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

Common questions

Where is the Hamstrings located?

The Hamstrings is located in the posterior thigh. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh.

What does the Hamstrings do?

Knee flexion and hip extension. The hamstrings flex the knee joint.

What is a key fact about the Hamstrings?

The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

What layer does the Hamstrings belong to?

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The hamstrings are a group of three muscles on the back of the thigh. The hamstrings flex the knee joint. The hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity proximally.

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Hamstrings search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.