Guy ropes

Guy ropes are a group of thigh muscles consisting of sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus muscles. Though they differ in origin, anatomical positioning, functions, innervation, and blood supply, they share a common insertion. They are inserted on tibia and depict one muscle from all three compartments of thigh; anterior, medial and posterior compartment respectively. Their main function together is to provide stability, strength, and weight distribution to the pelvis on the femur and tibia by having a guy-rope arrangement.
Anatomy
The three muscles constitute the elements from each fascial compartment of thigh. Sartorius originates from anterior superior iliac spine and the upper half of the notch below the iliac spine of the pelvic bone, which represents the anterior compartment of thigh. Gracilis originates from ischiopubic ramus; from the inferior ramus of pubis, ramus of the ischium, and inferolateral part of ischial tuberosity, represents the medial compartment of thigh. Semitendinosus originates from the upper part of tuberosity of the ischium from the inferomedial impression, and represents the posterior compartment of thigh.
Guy ropes are inserted on the upper anteromedial surface of tibia as pes anserinus; the tendons from the three muscles combine and get inserted. The order of convergence from in front to behind is: sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus.
Sartorius is supplied by femoral nerve, gracilis by anterior branch of obturator nerve, and semitendinosus by tibial part of sciatic nerve. They receive blood from femoral artery, profunda femoris and medial circumflex femoral artery, and inferior gluteal artery and perforating arteries respectively.
Functions
Sartorius performs flexion, abduction, and lateral rotation of the hip joint, and flexion of the knee joint. Gracilis does flexion, medial rotation, and weak adduction of the hip joint. Semitendinosus helps in flexion of the knee joint, medial rotation of the leg and weak extension of the hip.
As guy ropes, the muscles form a guy-rope structure: they begin from different higher points and converge below to constitute a tent-like formation. This arrangement maintains stability and provides strength to the pelvis on femur and tibia. It also aids in proper channelling of weight for maintaining balance and in various motions of lower limb. Guy ropes, consisting of muscles from all compartments of thigh with different functions, help in stabilizing the pelvis over the thigh and leg.
Clinical significance
Anserine bursa is a sub-muscular synovial bursa located in between guy ropes and tibial collateral ligament. Inflammation of the bursa is known as pes anserine bursitis and the muscles of guy ropes may also get involved. This results in decreased function of the individual muscles and/or guy ropes as a whole.
Citations

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