Also called: hamstring
The biceps femoris is the lateral hamstring, with a long head from the ischial tuberosity and a short head from the linea aspera. Both insert mainly on the head of the fibula. The tibial nerve supplies the long head and the common fibular nerve supplies the short head. It flexes the knee and the long head extends the hip.
| Origin | Long head: ischial tuberosity and sacrotuberous ligament. Short head: lateral lip of the linea aspera. |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Head of the fibula, with a slip to the lateral tibial condyle. |
| Innervation | Long head: tibial division of the sciatic nerve. Short head: common fibular division (L5-S2). |
| Blood supply | Perforating branches of the profunda femoris and inferior gluteal artery. |
| Action | Flexes the knee and laterally rotates the flexed knee; the long head extends the hip. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
Its tendon forms the lateral border of the popliteal fossa. The common fibular nerve runs along the medial border of the tendon toward the neck of the fibula.
The long head belongs to the hamstring compartment (tibial division), while the short head develops from the posterior compartment supplied by the common fibular division.
Mainly on the head of the fibula.
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