Semimembranosus
Musculus semimembranosus
Extends the hip; its tibial part flexes the stifle when the limb swings free.
About the semimembranosus of the dog
Semimembranosus is a muscle of the back leg (pelvic limb), on the left side. Its name in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria is Musculus semimembranosus. Caudomedial thigh, cranial to semitendinosus. You can turn it above, see it in place in the back leg of the dog, and open it inside the whole animal in Vetomica.
Where it runs from and to
A muscle is told apart from its neighbours by what it takes hold of at each end, which is also what decides what it does when it shortens.
- Origin
- Ventral surface of the ischiatic tuberosity.
- Insertion
- Cranial belly to the distal medial femur near the medial condyle; caudal belly to the medial tibial condyle.
- Action
- Extends the hip; its tibial part flexes the stifle when the limb swings free.
- Nerve
- Sciatic nerve.
Written for Vetomica in its own words from the standard reference anatomy of the dog; the books it was checked against are listed below.
What it works on
Caudomedial thigh, cranial to semitendinosus.
Bones it takes hold of
Muscles and ligaments it works with
- Semitendinosus
- Gracilis
- Adductor magnus muscle
- Quadrate muscle of the thigh
- Gastrocnemius medial head
Terminology
- English
- Semimembranosus
- Latin (NAV)
- Musculus semimembranosus
- Status
- A valid term in the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria
References
Where to read this structure in full, and where the named parts above were read.
- NAV 2017Myologia: musculi membri pelvini
- Miller's Anatomy of the Dog, 5th ed.The Muscular System: muscles of the pelvic limb
- König & LiebichMuscles of the pelvic limb
- Dyce, Sack & WensingThe hindlimb of the carnivores
- Miller 2020 (book pass)ch. 6 The Muscular System, PDF p. 613
The semimembranosus in other animals
The same structure in the other animals in the Library, to compare.
Questions about the semimembranosus
- What is the Latin name of the semimembranosus?
- In the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria, the semimembranosus is called Musculus semimembranosus.
- Where is the semimembranosus of the dog?
- Semimembranosus is a muscle of the back leg (pelvic limb), on the left side.
- Which bones does the semimembranosus attach to?
- Semimembranosus takes hold of Ischium, Femur and Tibia.
- Where does the semimembranosus originate and insert?
- Origin: Ventral surface of the ischiatic tuberosity. Insertion: Cranial belly to the distal medial femur near the medial condyle; caudal belly to the medial tibial condyle.
- What nerve supplies the semimembranosus?
- Sciatic nerve.
- What does the semimembranosus do?
- Extends the hip; its tibial part flexes the stifle when the limb swings free.
See the semimembranosus inside the whole dog.
Vetomica opens on this structure with every layer of the dog around it: peel back the skin and the muscles, cut a section through it, X-ray it, and practise naming it until you stop getting it wrong.
Free for 7 days, no card. After that the skeletons stay free.
