Next Lesson - Muscles of the Thigh
Core
The muscles of the gluteal region are important in mobilising the lower limb at the hip joint. The 3 movements that the gluteal muscles facilitate abduction, extension and rotation of the hip. The muscles of the gluteal region can be divided into two compartments; superficial and deep.
Superficial Gluteal Compartment
There are 4 muscles within the superficial gluteal compartment. They are all innervated by (either the superior gluteal nerve or the inferior gluteal nerve) and act to abduct and extend the hip.
This is the largest muscle in the body. Gluteus maximus originates from the ilium, coccyx and sacrum and attaches to the gluteal tuberosity of the femur. It is innervated by the inferior gluteal nerve and acts to extend the hip joint (whilst also providing some aid in lateral rotation). The gluteus maximus is particularly important for powerful hip extension, for example when climbing or walking up stairs, and also contributes during normal gait.
This muscle is found between the Gluteus Maximus and the Gluteus Minimus. It originates from the ilium and attaches at the greater trochanter of the femur. It is innervated by the superior gluteal nerve. It acts to abduct and medially rotate the femur at the hip joint. It is also a key muscle for the stabilisation of the pelvis, with failure of this muscle causing Trendelenburg's Sign (see here for more details).
This muscle is the deepest and smallest of the superficial compartment and originates from the ilium. It attaches to the greater trochanter. Like the Gluteus Medius, it is innervated by the superior gluteal nerve and acts to abduct and medially rotate the femur at the hip.
This is a small superficial muscle that originates from anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and spans through the iliotibial tract to attach to the lateral condyle of the tibia, meaning it sits on the lateral side of the thigh. It is innervated by the superior gluteal nerve and acts to abduct and medially rotate the femur at the hip.
There are 5 muscles in the deep gluteal compartment. These are all found deep to the gluteus minimus and generally act to laterally rotate the femur at the hip. These 5 muscles are listed here in the order of superior to inferior.
The most superficial muscle of the deep compartment. This muscle originates from the sacrum, passes through the greater sciatic foramen before attaching to the greater trochanter of the femur. It is innervated by the nerve to piriformis. It acts to laterally rotate and abduct the femur. It is an important muscle due to its close relationship with the nerves of the sacral plexus, all of which pass through the greater sciatic foramen.
This is one of a pair of muscles in the deep compartment of the gluteal region that sit either side of the tendon of obturator internus, and is therefore one half of the 'thieving twins'. The Gemelli muscles are known as this because they 'steal' the innervation from the muscle that is below them, meaning that the superior gemellus is innervated by the nerve to obturator internus. It originates from the ischial spine, and attaches to the greater trochanter. Both Gemelli act to laterally rotate and abduct the femur.
Originating from the pubis and ischium within the obturator foramen, this muscle attaches to the greater trochanter and is innervated by the nerve to obturator internus. It acts to laterally rotate and abduct the femur.
This is the other one of the 'thieving twins', sitting inferior to the obturator internus tendon. Similar to the superior gemellus, the inferior gemellus 'steals' its innervation from the muscle below it, meaning it is innervated by the nerve to quadratus femoris. It originates from the ischial tuberosity, and attaches to the greater trochanter. Both Gemelli act to laterally rotate and abduct the femur.
This muscle is the most inferior of the deep muscles and originates from the ischial tuberosity. It attaches to the intertrochanteric crest of the femur. This muscle is innervated by the nerve to quadratus femoris and acts to laterally rotate the femur.
Diagram - The muscles of the gluteal region - note that the gluteus medius and gluteus maximus have been cut off to allow visualisation of the deep muscles.
Creative commons source, edited by Sachin Sudhakaran
Edited by: Dr. Maddie Swannack
Reviewed by: Dr. Ben Appleby
In this article
The muscles of the gluteal region are important in mobilising the lower limb at the hip joint.
- 13899
