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Gluteus medius
The gluteus medius and nearby muscles
Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions with origin and insertion of gluteus medius muscle labeled
Latin	musculus gluteus medius
Gray's	subject #128 474
Origin	Gluteal surface of ilium, under gluteus maximus
Insertion	Greater trochanter of the femur
Artery	superior gluteal artery
Nerve	superior gluteal nerve (L4, L5, S1 nerve roots)
Actions	abduction of the hip; preventing adduction of the hip. Medial rotation of thigh.
Antagonist	lateral rotator group

The gluteus medius (or glutæus medius), one of the three gluteal muscles, is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis.

Its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and integument.

Contents 1 Relations 2 Origin and insertion 3 Action 4 Variations 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Relations

A bursa separates the tendon of the muscle from the surface of the trochanter over which it glides.

[edit] Origin and insertion

The gluteus medius muscle starts, or "originates," on the outer surface of the ilium between the iliac crest and the posterior gluteal line above, and the anterior gluteal line below; the gluteus medius also originates from the gluteal aponeurosis that covers its outer surface.

The fibers of the muscle converge into a strong flattened tendon that inserts on the lateral surface of the greater trochanter. More specifically, the muscle's tendon inserts into an oblique ridge that runs downward and forward on the lateral surface of the greater trochanter.

[edit] Action

With the leg in neutral (straightened), the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus function together to pull the thigh away from midline, or "abduct" the thigh. During gait, these two muscles function principally in supporting the body on one leg, in conjunction with the tensor fascia lata, to prevent the pelvis from dropping to the opposite side.

Additionally, with the hip flexed the gluteus medius and minimus externally rotate the thigh. With the hip extended, the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus internally rotate the thigh.^[1]

[edit] Variations

The posterior border may be more or less closely united to the piriformis, or some of the fibers end on its tendon.

The posterior fibres of gluteus medius contract to produce hip extension, lateral rotation and abduction. During gait, the posterior fibres help to decelerate internal rotation of the femur at the end of swing phase.

[edit] Additional images

Right hip bone. External surface.	Right femur. Posterior surface.	Structures surrounding right hip-joint.	The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view.	Surface anatomy of the back.

[edit] See also

• Trendelenburg gait

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• -200933297 at GPnotebook
• LUC glmd
• SUNY Labs 13:st-0404
• Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-15

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs (TA A04.7, GA 4.465) ILIAC Region / ILIOPSOAS psoas major/psoas minor · iliacus BUTTOCKS gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) · tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: quadratus femoris · inferior gemellus · obturator internus · superior gemellus · piriformis THIGH / compartments Anterior sartorius · quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) · articularis genu Posterior/hamstring biceps femoris · semitendinosus · semimembranosus Medial pectineus · obturator externus · gracilis · adductor (longus, brevis, magnus) Fascia Femoral sheath (Femoral canal) · Femoral ring Adductor canal · Adductor hiatus fascia lata (Iliotibial tract, Lateral intermuscular septum of thigh, Medial intermuscular septum of thigh, Fascia cribrosa/Saphenous opening) LEG/ Crus/ compartments Anterior tibialis anterior · extensor hallucis longus · extensor digitorum longus · peroneus tertius Posterior superficial · triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles tendon) · plantaris deep · tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) · popliteus Lateral peroneus muscles (longus, brevis) Fascia Pes anserinus crural fascia (Anterior crural intermuscular septum, Posterior crural intermuscular septum, Transverse intermuscular septum) FOOT Dorsal extensor hallucis brevis · extensor digitorum brevis Plantar 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) · 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) · 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis, flexor digiti minimi brevis) · 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei) Fascia Plantar fascia retinacula (Peroneal, Inferior extensor, Superior extensor, Flexor)