ANATOMICAL VARIATION OF THE SEMITENDINOSUS MUSCLE ORIGIN

Purpose: During a routine dissection of an 87-year-old female cadaver, an aberrant muscle attachment (AMA) of the right semitendinosus (ST) muscle origin was discovered medial to the primary muscle origin. This attachment originated from the medial portion of the ischial tuberosity and inferior to the sacrotuberous ligament attachment site. It then traveled distally in the long axis of the femur to join the ST muscle, which showed no other variations in structure. Methods: Standard dissection procedures for prosecting human cadavers were followed. Specifically, for the gluteal and posterior thigh region. Results: This study describes a previously undocumented variation of the ST origin that could predispose a patient to the aforementioned thigh pain, as well as pelvic floor pain. Conclusions: Patients presenting with recurrent pain or dysfunction in these areas should prompt an investigation into possible variations of hamstring muscle origins. Future work involving identification of this variation in living subjects could improve chronic pain related to posterior thigh and pelvic floor syndromes.