Sartorius muscle
Musculus sartorius
- Related terms: Sartorius
Definition
Sartorius muscle (muscle group: Anterior compartment of thigh) | |
Origin | Anterior superior iliac spine |
Insertion | Upper medial side of the tibia in the pes anserinus |
Innervation | Femoral nerve (L2, L3) |
Artery | Femoral artery and its branches |
Action | Flexion, lateral rotation and abduction of thigh; flexion of leg |
The sartorius muscle is a narrow, ribbon-like, superficial muscle that runs obliquely across the anterior thigh, from the lateral hip to the upper medial side of knee.
Origin
It arises from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the upper half of the notch below it.
Course and Insertion
The sartorius muscle crosses the anterior compartment of thigh obliquely, descending from lateral to medial, passes behind the medial condyle of the femur, then curves anteriorly to insert into the medial surface of the upper tibia. The sartorius inserts immediately in front of the tendons of gracilis and semitendinosus, forming part of the pes anserinus (goose’s foot). The tendon expands into a broad aponeurosis, which blends superiorly with the knee capsule and inferiorly with the fascia of the medial leg.
Functions
Action | Description |
At the Hip | Flexes, abducts, and laterally rotates the thigh. |
At the Knee | Flexes the leg and assists in medial rotation of the flexed leg. |
Combined Function | Produces the characteristic “tailor’s position” (hip flexion, abduction, external rotation with knee flexion). Although long, the sartorius is a weak prime mover, serving mainly for coordination and precision of lower-limb movements. |
Relations
Superficial to: Iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis.
Medially: Forms the lateral boundary of the femoral triangle and contributes to the roof of the adductor (subsartorial) canal.
References
Walters BB, Varacallo MA. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Thigh Sartorius Muscle. [Updated 2023 Aug 28]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532889/
