Sartorius (Musculus sartorius)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The longest muscle in the body — a slanting strap from the ASIS to the medial tibial surface across the knee, its fibres twisting like a spiral ribbon enabling the tailor’s cross-legged pose that named it.
Origin & insertion
Anterior superior iliac spine and the notch below it.
Action
Flexes hip and knee together with lateral femoral rotation — the composite cross-legged motion — and assists abduction.
Innervation
Femoral nerve (L2–L3).
Clinical notes
Its lateral border bounds the femoral triangle sheltering femoral nerve and artery; its tendon flap is the standard soft-tissue cover for chronic tibial osteomyelitis.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Sartorius?
The longest muscle in the body — a slanting strap from the ASIS to the medial tibial surface across the knee, its fibres twisting like a spiral ribbon enabling the tailor’s cross-legged pose that named it.
Why is the Sartorius clinically important?
Its lateral border bounds the femoral triangle sheltering femoral nerve and artery; its tendon flap is the standard soft-tissue cover for chronic tibial osteomyelitis.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details