Gluteus maximus
The gluteus maximus is the main extensor muscle of the hip. It is the largest and outermost of the three gluteal muscles and makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of each side of the hips. It is the single largest muscle in the human body.[1] Its thick fleshy mass, in a quadrilateral shape, forms the prominence of the buttocks. The other gluteal muscles are the medius and minimus, and sometimes informally these are collectively referred to as the glutes.
| Gluteus Maximus | |
|---|---|
 The gluteus maximus, with surrounding fascia. Right buttock, viewed from behind, skin covering removed. | |
 The gluteus medius and nearby muscles. | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Gluteal surface of ilium, lumbar fascia, sacrum, sacrotuberous ligament |
| Insertion | Gluteal tuberosity of the femur and iliotibial tract |
| Artery | Superior and inferior gluteal arteries |
| Nerve | Inferior gluteal nerve (L5, S1 and S2 nerve roots) |
| Actions | External rotation and extension of the hip joint, supports the extended knee through the iliotibial tract, chief antigravity muscle in sitting and abduction of the hip |
| Antagonist | Iliacus, psoas major and psoas minor |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | Musculus glutaeus maximus |
| TA98 | A04.7.02.006 |
| TA2 | 2598 |
| FMA | 22314 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Its large size is one of the most characteristic features of the muscular system in humans,[2] connected as it is with the power of maintaining the trunk in the erect posture. Other primates have much flatter hips and cannot sustain standing erectly.
The muscle is made up of muscle fascicles lying parallel with one another, and are collected together into larger bundles separated by fibrous septa.
Structure
The gluteus maximus is the outermost muscle of the buttocks. It arises from connections to nearby structures in this area. It arises from the posterior gluteal line of the inner upper ilium, a bone of the pelvis, as well as above it to the iliac crest and slightly below it; from the lower part of the sacrum and the side of the coccyx, the tailbone; from the aponeurosis of the erector spinae (lumbodorsal fascia), the sacrotuberous ligament, and the fascia covering the gluteus medius (gluteal aponeurosis).[3]
The fibers are directed obliquely inferiorly and laterally;
The gluteus maximus ends in two main areas:
- those forming the upper and larger portion of the muscle, together with the superficial fibers of the lower portion, end in a thick tendinous lamina, which passes across the greater trochanter, and inserts into the iliotibial band of the fascia lata;
- the deeper fibers of the lower portion are inserted into the gluteal tuberosity of the linea aspera, between the vastus lateralis and adductor magnus. If present, the third trochanter also serves as an attachment.
Bursae
Three bursae are usually found in relation with the deep surface of this muscle:
- One of these, of large size, separates it from the greater trochanter;
- a second (often missing) is situated on the tuberosity of the ischium;
- a third is found between the tendon of the muscle and that of the vastus lateralis.
Image showing the outer surface of the ilium, showing the inferior gluteal line.
Function
The gluteus maximus straightens the leg at the hip; when the leg is flexed at the hip, the gluteus maximus extends it to bring the leg into a straight line with the body.[3]
Taking its fixed point from below, it acts upon the pelvis, supporting it and the trunk upon the head of the femur; this is particularly obvious in standing on one leg. Its most powerful action is to cause the body to regain the erect position after stooping, by drawing the pelvis backward, being assisted in this action by the biceps femoris (long head), semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and adductor magnus.
The gluteus maximus is a tensor of the fascia lata, and by its connection with the iliotibial band steadies the femur on the articular surfaces of the tibia during standing, when the extensor muscles are relaxed.
The lower part of the muscle also acts as an adductor and external rotator of the limb. The upper fibers act as abductors of the hip joints.
Society and culture
Training
The gluteus maximus is involved in several sports, from running to weight-lifting. A number of exercises focus on the gluteus maximus and other muscles of the upper leg:
- Hip thrusts
- Glute bridge
- Quadruped hip extensions
- Kettlebell swings
- Squats and variations like split squats, pistol squats and wide-stance lunges
- Deadlift (and variations)
- Reverse hyperextension
- Four-way hip extensions
- Glute-ham raise
In art
In cultural terms, the glutes are often considered a symbol of health and strength, and aesthetically appealing. They frequently feature in artwork which seeks to emphasise and celebrate physicality, and the ability to move dynamically and powerfully. They are usually shown to be efficiently proportioned and prominent.
Evidence of such depictions of the gluteal muscles extends from at least Ancient Greece to the modern day.[4][5]
- The glutes in art and photography
An Ancient Greek javelin thrower represented on a vase, c.520 B.C.
An Ancient Greek warrior in bronze. Riace Bronzes, c.450 B.C.
A sprinter passing the baton to his team mate, 2018.jpg.webp)
A sprinter warming up on the race track, 2018
Clinical significance
Functional assessment can be useful in assessing injuries to the gluteus maximus and surrounding muscles.
The 30-second chair-to-stand test measures a participant's ability to stand up from a seated position as many times as possible in a thirty-second period of time.[6] Testing the number of times a person can stand up in a thirty-second period helps assess strength, flexibility, pain, and endurance,[6] which can help determine how far along a person is in rehabilitation, or how much work is still to be done.
The piriformis test measures flexibility of the gluteus maximus. This requires a trained professional and is based on the angle of external and internal rotation in relation to normal range of motion without injury or impingement.[7]
Other animals
The gluteus maximus is larger in size and thicker in humans than in other primates.[3] Its large size is one of the most characteristic features of the muscular system in humans,[2] connected as it is with the power of maintaining the trunk in the erect posture. Other primates have much flatter hips and cannot sustain standing erectly.
In other primates, gluteus maximus consists of ischiofemoralis, a small muscle that corresponds to the human gluteus maximus and originates from the ilium and the sacroiliac ligament, and gluteus maximus proprius, a large muscle that extends from the ischial tuberosity to a relatively more distant insertion on the femur. In adapting to bipedal gait, reorganization of the attachment of the muscle as well as the moment arm was required.[8]
Additional images
Gluteus maximus is the most superficial muscle of the hips, here visible at top centre with skin removed from the entire right leg
The gluteus maximus as it appears on a skeleton without other muscles
All gluteal muscles, maximus in yellow
Structures surrounding right hip-joint (gluteus maximus visible at bottom)
Innervation and blood-supply of the gluteus maximus.
Gluteus maximus cut showing underlying structures.
Gluteus maximus cut showing underlying structures.
Structures visible under the gluteus maximus.
Innervation as seen from under the gluteus maximus.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 474 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- "Largest Muscle in The Body: You Might Be Sitting on It Right Now". Healthline.com. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- Norman Eizenberg et al., General Anatomy: Principles and Applications (2008), p. 17.
- Standring, Susan, ed. (2016). ""Pelvic girdle, gluteal region and thigh: gluteus maximus". Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice (41st ed.). Philadelphia. pp. 1357–8. ISBN 9780702052309. OCLC 920806541.
- Bret Contreras, Glen Cordoza (2019). The Glute Lab. Victory Belt Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 9781628603460.
- Metraux, Guy P. R. (1995). Sculptures and Physicians in Fifth-Century Greece. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press. pp. 40–41. ISBN 0773512314.
- Dobson, F.; Bennell, K.; Hinman, R.; Abbott, H.; Roos, E. (2013). "OARSI recommended performance-based tests to assess physical function in people diagnosed with hip or knee osteoarthritis" (PDF). Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 21 (8): 1042–52. doi:10.1016/j.joca.2013.05.002. PMID 23680877.
- "Passive Piriformis ROM". Exrx.net. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
- Hogervorst T, Vereecke EE (2015). "Evolution of the human hip. Part 2: muscling the double extension". Journal of Hip Preservation Surgery. 2 (1): 3–14. doi:10.1093/jhps/hnu014. PMC 4718477. PMID 27011809.
External links
- Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-female-17—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
- Cross section image: pelvis/pelvis-e12-15—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna
- Cross section image: pembody/body18b—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna