Pes anserinus (leg)
Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions. Area of pes anserinus is encircled at bottom. sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus are labeled at bottom left.

The pes anserinus ("goose's foot") is the insertion of the conjoined tendons of three muscles^[1] onto the anteromedial (front and inside) surface of the proximal extremity of the tibia.

Contents 1 Anatomy 2 Mnemonic 3 Clinical significance 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Anatomy

The three muscles are (from anterior to posterior):^[2]

• sartorius
• gracilis
• semitendinosus

The conjoined tendon lies superficial to the tibial insertion of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the knee.

[edit] Mnemonic

A good mnemonic to remember the muscles which contribute tendons to this conjoined tendon and the innervations of these muscles is SGT FOT (sergeant FOT)

S- Sartorius G- Gracilis T- semiTendinosus (from medial to lateral)

F- femoral nerve O- obturator nerve T- tibial nerve (one of the two component nerves of the sciatic nerve [the other being the common fibular (or common peroneal) nerve]. It should be noted that the sciatic nerve itself cannot technically innervate anything because it is merely the designation for the common sheath that encases the tibial and common fibular nerves.)

Notice the order of the muscles (S, G, T) follows the order of the innervating nerves which correspond to those muscles (F, O, T)

Another useful mnemonic is

Say Grace before Tea

Elucidating the insertion of the three muscles from anterior to posterior

Sartorius - Gracilis - semiTendinosus

[edit] Clinical significance

It is a major cause of chronic knee pain and weakness ("pes anserinus bursitis").^[3][4] Pes bursitis is a condition in which the medial portion of the knee is inflammed. If the bursa underlying the tendons of the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosis gets irritated from overuse or injury a person can develop this ailment. This condition usually occurs in athelete from overuse. This pathology is characterized by pain, swelling, and tenderness. (eMedicine, MD. M. Glencross).

It can also be used to surgically repair the anterior cruciate ligament.^[5]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Duke Orthopedics pes_anserinus
• Description at rad.washington.edu

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v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs (TA A04.7, GA 4.465) ILIAC Region / ILIOPSOAS psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus BUTTOCKS gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) · tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: quadratus femoris · inferior gemellus · obturator internus · superior gemellus · piriformis THIGH / compartments Anterior sartorius · quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) · articularis genu Posterior/hamstring biceps femoris · semitendinosus · semimembranosus Medial pectineus · obturator externus · gracilis · adductor (longus, brevis, magnus) Fascia Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) · Femoral ring Adductor canal · Adductor hiatus fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · peroneus tertius Posterior superficial · triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles tendon) · plantaris deep · tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) · popliteus Lateral peroneus muscles (longus, brevis) Fascia Pes anserinus crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) FOOT Dorsal extensor hallucis brevis · extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) · 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis) · 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei) Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)