Hamstring

A hamstring (/ˈhæmstrɪŋ/) is the three muscles in the back of the thigh. They are between the hip and the knee. The three hamstring muscles are the semimembranosus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris.^[3][4]

Hamstring
Rotating view of the hamstring muscles
Details
Origin	tuberosity of the ischium, linea aspera
Insertion	tibia, fibula
Artery	inferior gluteal artery, profunda femoris artery
Nerve	sciatic nerve (tibial nerve and common fibular nerve)[1][2]
Actions	flexion of knee, extension of hip
Antagonist	Rectus femoris muscle
Identifiers
MeSH	D000070633
Anatomical terms of muscle [edit on Wikidata]

Clinical importance

Sports running injuries

Hamstrings are often injured in many different sports.^[4][5] When sprinting, too much muscle strain in the eccentric contraction phase (right before you lift your leg) can cause an injury.^[4][5] Hamstring injuries in sports happens about 2 times per 1000 hours of performance.^[4] In some sports hamstring injuries are 19% of all sports injuries.^[4]