title: An anatomical and histological study of the structures surrounding the proximal attachment of the hamstring muscles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The proximal attachment of hamstring muscles has a very high incidence of injuries due to a wide number of factors and its morphology may be one of the underlying factors as scientific literature points out. The connective tissue component of the attachment of hamstring muscles is not well known. For this reason the aim of this study is to describe the anatomy and histology surrounding the proximal attachment of the hamstring muscles (PAHM) and its direct anatomic relations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight cryopreserved lower limbs have sequentially been studied by means of dissection, anatomical sections and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All specimens studied presented an annular connective tissue structure that resembles a retinaculum, which covers and adapts to the attachment of hamstring muscles on the ischial tuberosity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show how this retinaculum is continuous with the long head of biceps femoris muscle, however there is a layer of loose connective tissue between the retinaculum and the semitendinosus muscle. Furthermore, this structure receives expansions of the anterior epimysium of the gluteus maximus muscle (GIM).
authors.affiliation: Basic Sciences Department, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Bellmunt
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Anatomy and Embriology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Campus de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: mimiguel@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miguel-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Unit of Human Anatomy and Embriology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Campus de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Spain; Department of Fundamental Care and Medical-Surgical Nursing, University School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marc Blasi
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brugué
authors.affiliation: Histology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, Campus de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Blasi
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Cabús
authors.affiliation: Basic Sciences Department, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casals
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Radiologia "R"-DICMI, Universita di Genova, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinoli
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, UK.
authors.forename: Raija
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuisma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002102:Cadaver; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D000070633:Hamstring Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Fascia; Hamstring injury; Hamstring proximal attachment; Retinaculum