What Is the Main Function of the Sartorius Muscle?

The sartorius muscle is the longest muscle in the human body. It is rather thin and runs from the outer hip to the inside of the knee. Its functions are to protect blood vessels and to help the knee and the hip with rotation. There is one sartorius muscle in each leg.

Protection

The Sartorius's main function is to protect the two major blood vessels passing to and from the calf muscles. The femoral artery and the femoral vein are protected by the Sartorius muscle.

A Group

The sartorius muscle is part of a group of muscles called the thigh flexor muscles. There are seven muscles in this group, which are found on both sides of the body. The seven muscles are psoas, iliacus, sartorius, vastus rectus, adductor longus, adductor brevis and the pectineus.

The Sartorius

The Sartorius is rather weak by itself. With its small diameter, it does not generate that much force, but rather helps movement of the knee and hip.

Origin

Sartoriul comes from the Latin sartor, meaning tailor. The muscle helps perform the cross-legged position--a position used by tailors.

The Upper side

The Sartorius muscle's upper portion at the iliac spine helps form the femoral triangle.