Muscle Anatomy: Gluteal Muscles

Gluteal Muscles

• Gluteus Maximus:

  • Origin: Ilium, posterior sacrum, coccyx
  • Insertion: Gluteal tuberosity of femur, iliotibial tract
  • Action: Extends and laterally rotates hip
  • Innervation: Inferior gluteal nerve

• Gluteus Medius:

  • Origin: Gluteal lines of ilium, iliac crest
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Abducts hip
  • Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

• Gluteus Minimus:

  • Origin: Gluteal lines of ilium
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Abducts hip
  • Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

• Tensor Fasciae Latae:

  • Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine
  • Insertion: Iliotibial tract
  • Action: Flexes, abducts, and medially rotates hip
  • Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve

Deep Hip Rotators

• Piriformis:

  • Origin: Anterior sacrum
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Laterally rotates hip

• Gemellus Superior:

  • Origin: Ischial spine
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Laterally rotates hip

• Obturator Internus:

  • Origin: Medial margin of obturator foramen
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Laterally rotates hip

• Gemellus Inferior:

  • Origin: Ischial tuberosity
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Laterally rotates hip

• Quadratus Femoris:

  • Origin: Ischial tuberosity
  • Insertion: Greater trochanter of femur
  • Action: Laterally rotates hip

Hip Flexors

• Psoas Major:

  • Origin: Vertebrae T12-L5
  • Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur
  • Action: Flexes hip joint and trunk
  • Innervation: Not specified

• Psoas Minor:

  • Origin: Vertebrae T12-L1
  • Insertion: Iliopubic eminence
  • Action: Minor flexion of trunk
  • Innervation: Not specified

• Iliacus:

  • Origin: Iliac fossa
  • Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur
  • Action: Flexes hip joint
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Iliopsoas:

  • Origin: Merged psoas major and iliacus fibers, passes under inguinal ligament
  • Insertion: Lesser trochanter of femur
  • Action: Flexes hip joint
  • Innervation: Not specified

Quadriceps and Sartorius

• Sartorius:

  • Origin: Anterior superior iliac spine
  • Insertion: Proximal medial tibia
  • Action: Flexes knee, flexes and laterally rotates hip
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Rectus Femoris:

  • Origin: Anterior inferior iliac spine
  • Insertion: Tibial tuberosity (via quadriceps tendon and patellar ligament)
  • Action: Extends knee, flexes hip
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Vastus Lateralis:

  • Origin: Lateral tip of linea aspera
  • Insertion: Tibial tuberosity
  • Action: Extends knee
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Vastus Medialis:

  • Origin: Medial tip of linea aspera
  • Insertion: Tibial tuberosity
  • Action: Extends knee
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Vastus Intermedius:

  • Origin: Anterior proximal femur
  • Insertion: Tibial tuberosity
  • Action: Extends knee
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

Adductor Muscles

• Gracilis:

  • Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis
  • Insertion: Proximal medial tibia
  • Action: Adducts hip; flexes knee
  • Innervation: Obturator nerve

• Pectineus:

  • Origin: Pectineal line of pubis
  • Insertion: Pectineal line of femur
  • Action: Adducts and flexes hip
  • Innervation: Femoral nerve

• Adductor Longus:

  • Origin: Pubis
  • Insertion: Linea aspera of femur
  • Action: Adducts and flexes hip
  • Innervation: Obturator nerve

• Adductor Brevis:

  • Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis
  • Insertion: Linea aspera of femur
  • Action: Adducts and flexes hip
  • Innervation: Obturator nerve

• Adductor Magnus:

  • Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis and ischial tuberosity
  • Insertion: Linea aspera and adductor tubercle of femur
  • Action: Adducts and extends hip
  • Innervation: Obturator nerve

Hamstring Muscles

• Biceps Femoris Long Head:

  • Origin: Ischial tuberosity
  • Insertion: Head of fibula
  • Action: Flexes knee, extends hip
  • Innervation: Tibial nerve

• Biceps Femoris Short Head:

  • Origin: Linea aspera of femur
  • Insertion: Head of fibula
  • Action: Flexes knee
  • Innervation: Common fibular nerve

• Semitendinosus:

  • Origin: Ischial tuberosity
  • Insertion: Proximal medial tibia
  • Action: Flexes knee, extends hip
  • Innervation: Tibial nerve