Human Anatomy: Gluteal Region

Gluteal Region

• Gluteus maximus
  • Origin: Ilium behind posterior gluteal line
  • Insertion: Iliotibial tract, Gluteal tuberosity of femur
  • Nerve supply: Inferior gluteal nerve
• Gluteus medius
  • Origin: Ilium between anterior & posterior gluteal lines
  • Insertion: Lateral surface of greater trochanter
  • Nerve supply: Superior gluteal nerve
• Gluteus minimus
  • Origin: Ilium between anterior & inferior gluteal lines
  • Insertion: Front of greater trochanter
  • Nerve supply: Superior gluteal nerve
• Tensor fascia lata
  • Origin: Outer lip of iliac crest & ASIS
  • Insertion: Lateral condyle of tibia via iliotibial tract
  • Nerve supply: Superior gluteal nerve
• Gluteal action
  • Tensor fascia lata
    • Stabilization of knee during extension
    • Stabilisation of knee during extension (flexed leg)
  • Gluteus medius & minimus
    • Abduction of hip
    • Prevent pelvis from dropping on the swing side during walking
  • Gluteus maximus
    • Extension of hip
    • Lateral rotation of the thigh
    • Assist in rising from sitting position
• Nerve supply
  • Piriformis (key muscle): Sacral nerves
  • Superior gamelli: Nerve to obturator internus
  • Obturator internus: Nerve to obturator internus
  • Inferior gamelli: Nerve to quadratus femoris
  • Quadratus femoris: Nerve to quadratus femoris
• Trendelenburg's sign
  • Gluteus medius & minimus: Abductors of the hip joint
  • Prevents unsupported side of pelvis from dipping down
  • Maintains a horizontal line of pelvis during walking & running
  • Paralysis of Gluteus medius & minimus: Pelvis sinks on unsupported side (Trendelenburg's sign) & lurching gait

Femoral triangle & Anterior aspect of thigh

• Boundaries of femoral triangle:
  • Base: Inguinal ligament
  • Lateral border: Medial margin of sartorius muscle
  • Medial border: Medial margin of adductor longus muscle
• Floor:
  • Adductor longus
  • Pectineus
  • Psoas major
  • Iliacus
• Apex: Meeting point of sartorius & adductor longus. It is continuous with adductor canal
• Roof:
  • Skin
  • Superficial fascia
  • Fascia lata: Deep fascia of thigh
• Contents:
  • Femoral nerve
  • Femoral artery
  • Femoral vein
  • Femoral lymph nodes
• Femoral sheath:
  • Funnel-shaped sleeve of fascia surrounding artery, vein & lymphatics.
  • 3-4 cm long
  • Medial wall is shorter than the lateral wall
  • Contents: Femoral artery, femoral vein, femoral lymph nodes
  • Compartments: Lateral (Femoral artery & femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve), Intermediate (Femoral vein), Medial (Femoral canal)
• Femoral artery:
  • Continuation of external iliac artery
  • Passes under the inguinal ligament
  • Passes through the femoral triangle
  • Passes through adductor hiatus in adductor magnus muscle in adductor canal to reach posterior aspect of knee
  • Continues as popliteal artery
• Branches:
  • Superficial epigastric artery
  • Superficial circumflex iliac artery
  • Superficial external pudendal artery
  • Deep external pudendal artery
  • Muscular branches
    • Profunda femoris: Supplies the muscles of the thigh
      • Medial circumflex femoral artery
      • Lateral circumflex femoral artery
    • Perforating arteries: Pierce the adductor magnus and supplies the adductor and hamstring muscles
• Femoral vein:
  • From the adductor canal, it enters the femoral triangle through its apex
  • Lies medial to the femoral artery
  • Continues with the external iliac vein beneath the inguinal ligament
  • Tributaries: Profunda femoris vein, Great saphenous vein
• Femoral nerve:
  • Originates from the lumbar plexus
  • Passes under inguinal ligament to enter femoral triangle
  • Divides into anterior & posterior divisions
  • Supplies quadriceps muscles
• Ilio-Psoas:
  • Iliacus & Psoas major
  • Nerve supply:
    • Iliacus: Femoral nerve
    • Psoas major: Lumbar (L1, L2, L3) nerves
  • Action:
    • Psoas major flexes the thigh (hip joint) on the pelvis (laying down or standing)
    • Flexes the vertebral column on the thigh
    • Iliacus flexes the thigh (hip joint) on the pelvis only
    • Both muscles medially rotate the thigh
• Pectineus
  • Nerve supply: Femoral & obturator nerves
  • Action: Flexes, adducts & medially rotates thigh at hip joint

Test your knowledge on the anatomy of the gluteal region, including the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus, as well as the tensor fascia lata. This quiz covers origins, insertions, nerve supplies, and muscle actions. Perfect for students and enthusiasts of human anatomy!