Sartorius Tendon at Pes Anserinus

tendo musculi sartorii

The sartorius is the most anterior and superficial of the three pes anserinus tendons, inserting on the medial tibia proximal to the gracilis and semitendinosus. Its distal tendon is broad and thin, fanning out as the sartorial fascia before inserting at the anteromedial tibia below the tibial tubercle. Together with gracilis (middle) and semitendinosus (posterior), it forms the three-part pes anserinus complex at the medial tibial metaphysis.

Region: Knee

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The sartorius tendon is the most proximal layer of the pes anserinus and can be individually identified during medial knee approaches and during pes anserinus tendon harvest for knee ligament reconstruction. The sartorius fascia must be released to access the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons in hamstring graft harvest. Pes anserinus bursitis produces medial knee pain at the tendon insertion level, distinguished from MCL and meniscal pathology by the characteristic location (2-3 cm below the medial joint line rather than at the joint line).

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Pes Anserinus Bursitis Involving Sartorius Tendon

Bursal inflammation between the pes anserinus tendons (sartorius, gracilis, semitendinosus) and the medial tibia produces medial knee pain distal to the joint line reproduced by direct palpation at the pes insertion, often in overweight diabetic women; corticosteroid injection into the bursa with ultrasound guidance is the primary treatment.