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AnatomyLower limbPes anserinus
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AnatomyLower limbPes anserinus

Pes anserinus

Author: Danijel Tosovic, PhD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Muscles of the hip and thigh [17:51]
Overview of the muscles of the hip and thigh.
Pes anserinus
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Synonyms: Pes anserinus superficialis

The pes anserinus is the broad conjoined tendon of insertion of the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus muscles on medial surface of the proximal tibia. The term pes anserinus is Latin for "goose's foot" and was named based on its similar appearance to the webbed three-toed feet of geese. Within the pes anserinus, the three muscles attach in series such that the tendon of sartorius is most anterior, whilst the semitendinosus is the most posterior, with the gracilis in between. 

Interestingly, each muscle is from one of the three different compartments of the thigh, originating from different outlying points on the pelvis but merging at a common insertion point below the knee. This arrangement is thought to contribute to stabilizing the pelvis/trunk over knee joint. 

Terminology English: Pes anserinus
Latin: Pes anserinus
Structure Conjoined insertion of the sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus
Insertion Medial aspect of the proximal part of the tibia

Learn more about the muscles of the hip and thigh with this study unit:

Muscles of the hip and thigh Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

Standring, S., Anand, N., & Tunstall, R. (2021). Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice (Forty-second edition). Elsevier.

Tortora, G. J., Nielsen, M. T., & John Wiley & Sons, Inc., publisher. (2020). Principles of Human Anatomy, 15th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.

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