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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 13, 2025

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations

Published on: May 1, 2018

Hamstring origin-anatomy, angle of origin and its possible clinical implications.

C Azzopardi¹, G Almeer¹, J Kho¹

¹Department of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma

|March 15, 2021

Summary

The hamstring muscles

Keywords:

Conjoint tendon Hamstrings Semimembranosus Vector angle

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Area of Science:

Anatomy
Biomechanics
Radiology

Background:

The hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, semimembranosus, semitendinosus) are crucial for hip and knee movement.
The conjoint tendon's unique ischial angle may increase hamstring tear risk.
Understanding hamstring origin anatomy is key to injury prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the anatomical spatial relationship of hamstring muscle origins at the ischial tuberosity.
To analyze the vector angles of the conjoint tendon and semimembranosus origins.
To explore the correlation between hamstring origin angles and injury incidence.

Main Methods:

Review of 100 pelvic MRIs in patients under 40.
Musculoskeletal radiologists measured vector angles at the ischial origin of hamstring components.
Statistical analysis using a paired t-test confirmed significant differences in angles (p < 0.0001).

Main Results:

The median angle of origin for the conjoint tendon was 12°, and for the semimembranosus was 6°.
Calculated angles suggest a 9% greater force applied to the conjoint tendon origin compared to the semimembranosus.
A statistically significant difference was found between the vector angles of different hamstring components.

Conclusions:

The differing origin angles of hamstring components may contribute to variations in injury incidence and patterns.
Anatomical variations in hamstring origins could be a predisposing factor for muscle tears.
Further research into hamstring biomechanics and injury mechanisms is warranted.