Which muscle is described as the 'toe-out hamstring' and located outside the thigh?

Which muscle is described as the 'toe-out hamstring' and located outside the thigh?

• A. Semitendinosus
• B. Semimembranosus
• C. Gracilis
• D. Biceps femoris

Answer: (D)

The toe-out hamstring is the one that sits on the outer side of the posterior thigh and helps rotate the knee outward. The biceps femoris fits this description: it’s the lateral hamstring, with the long head positioned toward the back on the outside of the thigh and the short head on the outer lower thigh. When it contracts, it flexes the knee and externally rotates the tibia, which contributes to a toe-out appearance during movement. The other hamstrings lie more medially (semitendinosus and semimembranosus) and tend to contribute to internal rotation and knee flexion, while the gracilis is a medial thigh muscle not classified as a hamstring. Hence, the muscle described is the biceps femoris.

The toe-out hamstring is the one that sits on the outer side of the posterior thigh and helps rotate the knee outward. The biceps femoris fits this description: it’s the lateral hamstring, with the long head positioned toward the back on the outside of the thigh and the short head on the outer lower thigh. When it contracts, it flexes the knee and externally rotates the tibia, which contributes to a toe-out appearance during movement. The other hamstrings lie more medially (semitendinosus and semimembranosus) and tend to contribute to internal rotation and knee flexion, while the gracilis is a medial thigh muscle not classified as a hamstring. Hence, the muscle described is the biceps femoris.