The sartorius muscle, formerly known as the sartorius muscle, is a muscle located in the thigh.

Position. The sartorius muscle is located in the thigh, part of the lower limb located between the hip and the knee. The thigh is made up of a bone, the femur, and three muscle compartments: the internal compartment, the posterior compartment, and the anterior compartment. This latter compartment is located in front of the femur and is made up of the quadriceps muscle and the sartorius muscle (1).

Origin. The sartorius muscle is inserted at the level of the anterosuperior iliac spine, located at the level of the ilion bone (2).

Termination. The sartorius muscle ends by inserting itself at the level of the upper part of the medial aspect of the tibia, located between the knee and the ankle (2).

Structure. The sartorius muscle is a skeletal muscle, that is to say a muscle placed under the voluntary control of the central nervous system. It is the longest muscle in the body and crosses the thigh obliquely, from the anterior and upper thigh region to the lateral and lower thigh region3.

Innervation. The sartorius muscle is innervated by the femoral nerve (1).

Dynamics of the lower limb. The sartorius muscle participates in different movements of the lower limb (3): hip flexion, knee flexion, abduction and lateral rotation of the thigh.

Some thigh pain can be related to the sartorius muscle.

Muscle pain without lesions. (4)

• Cramp. Sometimes occurring in the sartorius muscle, it corresponds to an involuntary, painful and temporary contraction of a muscle.
• Contracture. It is an involuntary, painful, and permanent contraction of a muscle such as the sartorius muscle.

Muscle injury. The sartorius muscle can suffer muscle damage, accompanied by pain. (4)

• Elongation. First stage of muscle damage, elongation corresponds to a stretching of the muscle caused by microtears and resulting in muscle disorganization.
• Breakdown. Second stage of muscle damage, the breakdown corresponds to a rupture of muscle fibers.
• Rupture. The last stage of muscle damage, it corresponds to a total rupture of a muscle.

Tendinopathies. They designate all the pathologies that can occur in the tendons, in particular those associated with the sartorius muscle.5 The causes of these pathologies can be varied. The origin can be intrinsic as well with genetic predispositions, as extrinsic, with for example bad positions during the practice of sport.

• Tendinitis: It is an inflammation of the tendons.

Drug treatments. Depending on the pathology diagnosed, certain drugs may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation.

Surgical treatment. Depending on the pathology diagnosed, a surgical intervention may be implemented.

Physical treatment. Physical therapies, through specific exercise programs, can be prescribed such as physiotherapy or physiotherapy.

Physical examination. First, a clinical examination is performed in order to observe and assess the symptoms perceived by the patient.

Medical imaging exam. X-ray, CT or MRI exams can be used to confirm or further the diagnosis.

The sartorius, gracilis and semi-tendinous muscles are also called “crow’s feet muscles”. This name is linked to the shape produced by the insertion of the tendons of these muscles in the tibia (2).