Also called: tailor's muscle
The sartorius is the longest muscle in the body and runs obliquely across the front of the thigh. It arises from the anterior superior iliac spine and inserts on the upper medial tibia at the pes anserinus. The femoral nerve supplies it, and it flexes, abducts and laterally rotates the hip and flexes the knee.
| Origin | Anterior superior iliac spine. |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Superior part of the medial surface of the tibia (pes anserinus). |
| Innervation | Femoral nerve (L2-L3). |
| Blood supply | Muscular branches of the femoral artery. |
| Action | Flexes, abducts and laterally rotates the hip and flexes the knee, as in sitting cross-legged. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The sartorius forms the lateral border of the femoral triangle and the roof of the adductor canal, in which the femoral artery and vein travel.
Its combined actions place the leg in the cross-legged position historically used by tailors.
On the medial surface of the upper tibia as part of the pes anserinus.
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