Biceps femoris: origin, insertion, action and innervation. 

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The biceps femoris muscle is a thigh muscle located at the posterior aspect of the femur and part of the hamstrings muscles. It contains a long and a short head.

image descriptionBiceps Femoris Muscle

Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris highlighted. Labelled muscles: gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris highlighted. Labelled muscles: adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris highlighted. Labelled muscles: biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris labelled.
An image showing the Short Head of Biceps Femoris Muscle attached to the lower limb
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image descriptionAttachments of Biceps Femoris Muscle Long Head: Origin & Insertion

Origin: (proximal attachments)
a.Ischial tuberosity of os coxa.

Insertion: (distal attachments)
a. Head of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia.

Learn the anatomy of the biceps femoris faster and more efficiently with these 3d muscle anatomy videos. 

Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris highlighted. Labelled muscles: gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris highlighted. Labelled muscles: adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, long head of biceps femoris labelled.
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, origin and insertion of long head of biceps femoris labelled.
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image descriptionAttachments of Biceps femoris (short head): Origin & Insertion

Origin: (proximal attachments):
Distal linea aspera & lateral supracondylar ridge of femur.

Insertion: (distal attachments):
Head of fibula and lateral condyle of tibia.

An image showing the Short Head of Biceps Femoris Muscle (highlighted) attached to the lower limb with other muscles (Gluteus medius, Gluteus maximus, Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus and long head of Biceps femoris)
An image showing the Short Head of Biceps Femoris Muscle attached to the lower limb
An image showing the origin and insertion of Short Head of Biceps Femoris Muscle on the lower limb
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Actions of Biceps Femoris Muscle Long Head on the leg (tibia & fibula):

a. image descriptionFlexes leg at knee.

b. Laterally rotates leg at knee when knee is flexed.

c. It also extends thigh at hip.

Actions of Biceps Femoris Muscle Short Head on the Leg:

image descriptionFlexes the leg at the knee; laterally rotates leg when the knee is flexed.

Learning muscle anatomy is hard! Simplify your studies with this lower limb muscle anatomy reference chart.

Nerve to Muscle and its Spinal Segment:

Long head: Tibial part of sciatic nerve (S1 – S3).

Short head: Common peroneal part nerve (L5, S1, S2).

An Overview of the Posterior Muscles of the Thigh:

Test yourself image 1, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region showing all superficial muscles with no labels.
Test yourself image 2, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, all superficial muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 3, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 4, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, quadratus femoris, adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 5, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, piriformis, quadratus femoris, adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 6, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus minimus, piriformis, quadratus femoris, adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 7, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- piriformis, quadratus femoris, adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 8, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- piriformis, adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 9, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- adductor magnus, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 10, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- adductor magnus, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 11, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- adductor magnus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 12, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- adductor magnus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 13, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 14, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head.
Test yourself image 15, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles and structures labelled- biceps femoris: long head.
Test yourself image 16, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Origin and insertion of biceps femoris: long head.
Test yourself image 17, posterior view of skeleton of thigh and gluteal region.
Test yourself while observing the Biceps Femoris Muscle
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Muscles That Act On The Posterior Leg (From The Thigh)

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