sartorius

noun

sar·​to·​ri·​us sär-ˈtȯr-ē-əs 

plural sartorii sär-ˈtȯr-ē-ˌī 

-ē-ˌē

: a muscle that crosses the front of the thigh obliquely, assists in rotating the leg to the cross-legged position in which the knees are spread wide apart, and in humans is the longest muscle

Examples of sartorius in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The biggest difference in Hall’s muscle volume was seen in the ‘guy ropes’ – the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles – which stabilize the pelvis and thigh bone (femur). —New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2024

They are made up of 5 muscles: iliacus, psoas, pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius. —Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 7 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin sartor tailor, from Latin sarcire to mend

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sartorius

noun

sar·​to·​ri·​us sär-ˈtōr-ē-əs 

plural sartorii -ē-ˌī 

: a muscle that arises from the anterior superior iliac spine, crosses the front of the thigh obliquely to insert on the upper part of the inner surface of the tibia, is the longest muscle in the human body, and acts to flex, abduct, and rotate the thigh laterally at the hip joint and to flex the leg at the knee joint and to rotate it medially in a way that enables one to sit with the heel of one leg on the knee of the opposite leg