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Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

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The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Collection of Skeletal Muscle Biopsies from the Superior Compartment of Human Musculus Tibialis Anterior for Mechanical Evaluation
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Breaking points of human hamstring muscle-tendon complex: A cadaveric study.

Gakuto Nakao1, Kazuma Yamagata2, Risa Adachi3

  • 1Professional Post-secondary Course (Physical Therapist), Sapporo Medical Technology, Welfare and Dentistry Professional Training College of Nishino Gakuen School Foundation, Sapporo, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan.

Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
|September 5, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study measured the breaking strength of hamstring muscles in cadavers. The biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus muscles showed higher strength and stiffness, explaining their higher injury risk during running.

Keywords:
BiomechanicsHamstringMechanical propertiesMuscle strainRupture

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Musculoskeletal research
  • Sports injury science

Background:

  • Hamstring strain injuries are common in athletes, particularly during the late swing phase of running.
  • The precise breaking strength of human hamstring muscle-tendon complexes is not well understood.
  • Understanding muscle-tendon mechanical properties is crucial for injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the ultimate tensile strength and mechanical properties of the human hamstring muscle-tendon complexes.
  • To compare the breaking strength and strain characteristics of the biceps femoris long head, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus.
  • To elucidate the relationship between muscle mechanical properties and susceptibility to strain injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Thiel-embalmed cadaveric specimens for anatomical realism.
  • Isolated and tested the biceps femoris long head (BFlh), semimembranosus (SM), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles.
  • Applied tensile load using a material testing machine, measuring strain, stress, and Young's modulus until failure.

Main Results:

  • The biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semimembranosus (SM) exhibited significantly lower breaking strain compared to the semitendinosus (ST).
  • BFlh and SM demonstrated significantly higher breaking stress and Young's modulus, indicating greater stiffness.
  • These findings suggest that the mechanical properties of BFlh and SM contribute to their vulnerability under high tensile loads.

Conclusions:

  • The biceps femoris long head and semimembranosus are mechanically stiffer and have lower breaking strain than the semitendinosus.
  • These differences in mechanical properties may explain the higher incidence of strain injuries in BFlh and SM during dynamic activities like running.
  • This research provides valuable insights into hamstring injury mechanisms and informs targeted injury prevention strategies.