The hamstring is a large muscle running down the back of the thigh. This presentation is aimed at showing you how to evaluate the hamstrings by breaking them down into the 3 component muscles and demonstrating their spatial relationship and how this alters on their journey down the leg.

There are 3 hamstring muscles which arise from the ischial tuberosity, the biceps femoris and semitendinosis arise from a conjoined tendon with the semitendinosis rapidly transforming into muscle on the medial side of this tendon such that ultrasonically there does not appear to be any tendon at all. The biceps femoris component of the conjoint tendon is a long tendon with the muscle arising from the lateral aspect. The semimembranosis tendon is a long flat ribbon seen on the deep to the conjoint tendon which travels distally and slightly medially for about 10cm before giving off the muscle belly. The sciatic nerve is closely abuts the biceps femoris tendon.

The normal appearance of the tendons and nerve will be demonstrated including surface anatomy, ultrasound technique and landmarks. The mechanism and patterns of injury will be discussed.