Hamstring muscles

The three muscles of the posterior compartment of the thigh (semitendinosus m., semimembranosus m. and the long head of the biceps femoris m.) that attach to the ischial tuberosity are called the 'hamstring' group.

The term 'hamstring' has has roots in the European butchery trade, where the strong tendons of these muscles were used to hang slaughtered pigs.