Psoas major muscle

The psoas major (/ˈsoʊ.əs/ or /ˈsoʊ.æs/; from Ancient Greek: ψόᾱ, romanized: psóā, lit. 'muscles of the loins') is a long fusiform muscle located in the lateral lumbar region between the vertebral column and the brim of the lesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas. In animals, this muscle is equivalent to the tenderloin.

Psoas major muscle
Position of psoas major (shown in red)
The psoas major and nearby muscles
Details
OriginTransverse processes of T12–L4 and the lateral aspects of the discs between them
InsertionIn the lesser trochanter of the femur
Arterylumbar branch of iliolumbar artery
NerveLumbar plexus via anterior branches of L1–L3 nerves
ActionsFlexion in the hip joint
AntagonistGluteus maximus
Identifiers
LatinMusculus psoas major
TA98A04.7.02.004
TA22595
FMA18060
Anatomical terms of muscle

Structure

The psoas major is divided into a superficial and a deep part. The deep part originates from the transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae L1–L5. The superficial part originates from the lateral surfaces of the last thoracic vertebra, lumbar vertebrae L1–L4, and the neighboring intervertebral discs. The lumbar plexus lies between the two layers.[1]

Together, the iliacus muscle and the psoas major form the iliopsoas, which is surrounded by the iliac fascia. The iliopsoas runs across the iliopubic eminence through the muscular lacuna to its insertion on the lesser trochanter of the femur. The iliopectineal bursa separates the tendon of the iliopsoas muscle from the external surface of the hip-joint capsule at the level of the iliopubic eminence.[2] The iliac subtendinous bursa lies between the lesser trochanter and the attachment of the iliopsoas.[1]

Nerve supply

Innervation of the psoas major is through the anterior rami of L1 to L3 nerves.[3]

Variation

In fewer than 50 percent of human subjects,[1] the psoas major is accompanied by the psoas minor muscle.

One study using autopsy data found that the psoas major muscle is substantially thicker in men of African descent than in Caucasian men, and that the occurrence of the psoas minor is also ethnically variant, being present in most of the white subjects and absent in most of the black subjects.[4]

In mice, it is mostly a fast-twitching, type II muscle,[5] while in humans it combines slow- and fast-twitching fibers.[6]

Function

The psoas major joins the upper body and the lower body, the axial to the appendicular skeleton, the inside to the outside, and the back to the front.[7] As part of the iliopsoas, psoas major contributes to flexion in the hip joint. On the lumbar spine, unilateral contraction bends the trunk laterally, while bilateral contraction raises the trunk from its supine position.[8] In addition, attachment to the lesser trochanter, located on the posteromedial aspect of the femur, causes lateral rotation and weak adduction of the hip.

It forms part of a group of muscles called the hip flexors, whose action is primarily to lift the upper leg towards the body when the body is fixed or to pull the body towards the leg when the leg is fixed.

For example, when one performs a sit-up that brings the torso (including the lower back) away from the ground and towards the front of the leg, the hip flexors (including the iliopsoas) will flex the spine upon the pelvis.

Owing to the frontal attachment on the vertebrae, rotation of the spine will stretch the psoas.

Clinical significance

Tightness of the psoas can result in spasms or lower-back pain by compressing the lumbar discs.[9] A hypertonic and inflamed psoas can lead to irritation and entrapment of the ilioinguinal and the iliohypogastric nerves, resulting in a sensation of heat or water running down the front of the thigh.

Psoas can be palpated with active flexion of the hip. A positive psoas contracture test and pain with palpation reported by the patient indicate clinical significance. Care should be taken around the abdominal organs, especially the colon when palpating deeply.

The appearance of a protruding belly can visually indicate a hypertonic psoas, which pulls the spine forward while pushing the abdominal contents outward.[10]

The psoas lies posterolateral to the lumbar sympathetic ganglia, and the needle tip will often pass through the psoas major during a lumbar sympathetic block.

The genitofemoral nerve is formed in the midsection of the psoas muscle by the union of branches from the anterior rami of L1 and L2 nerve roots. The nerve then courses inferiorly within the psoas muscle and finally "pierces" the muscle and emerges on the anterior surface of the psoas distally. The nerve then traverses the retroperitoneum, descending over the anterior surface of the psoas.[11]

See also
This article uses anatomical terminology.

Notes

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 467 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Platzer (2004), p 234
  2. Bojsen-Møller, Finn; Simonsen, Erik B.; Tranum-Jensen, Jørgen (2001). Bevægeapparatets anatomi [Anatomy of the Locomotive Apparatus] (in Danish) (12th ed.). pp. 261–266. ISBN 978-87-628-0307-7.
  3. Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Standring, Susan (41st ed.). [Philadelphia]. 2016. p. 1324.e2. ISBN 9780702052309. OCLC 920806541.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Hanson, P.; Magnusson, S. P.; Sorensen, H.; Simonsen, E. B. (1999). "Anatomical differences in the psoas muscles in young black and white men". Journal of Anatomy. 194 (Pt 2): 303–307. doi:10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19420303.x. PMC 1467925. PMID 10337963.
  5. Nunes, MT; Bianco, AC; Migala, A; Agostini, B; Hasselbach, W (1985). "Thyroxine induced transformation in sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit soleus and psoas muscles". Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C. 40 (9–10): 726–34. doi:10.1515/znc-1985-9-1025. PMID 2934902.
  6. Arbanas, Juraj; Starcevic Klasan, Gordana; Nikolic, Marina; Jerkovic, Romana; Miljanovic, Ivo; Malnar, Daniela (2009). "Fibre type composition of the human psoas major muscle with regard to the level of its origin". Journal of Anatomy. 215 (6): 636–41. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01155.x. PMC 2796786. PMID 19930517.
  7. Earls, J., Myers, T (2010). Fascial Release for Structural Balance. Chchester, England: Lotus Publishing. p. 130. ISBN 9781905367184.
  8. Thieme Atlas of Anatomy (2006), p 422
  9. Akuthota, et al.(2008). p 40
  10. Corbo, & Splittberger (2007). Your Body, Your Responsibility. Arizona: Wheatmark Inc, Amazon. p. 88.
  11. Gupton, Marco; Varacallo, Matthew (2020). "Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Genitofemoral Nerve". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 28613484. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

References
  • Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1.
  • Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. ISBN 1-58890-419-9.
  • Akuthota, Venu; Ferreiro, Andrea; Moore, Tamara; Fredericson, Michael (2008). "Core Stability Exercise Principles" (PDF). Current Sports Medicine Reports. American College of Sports Medicine. 7 (1): 39–44. doi:10.1097/01.CSMR.0000308663.13278.69. PMID 18296944. S2CID 15236272. Retrieved 26 March 2011.

Additional images
  • Position of psoas major muscle. Animation. Hip bones are shown in semi-transparent.
  • Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the lower part of the abdomen. Psoas major labeled at bottom left.
  • Diagram of a transverse section of the posterior abdominal wall, to show the disposition of the lumbodorsal fascia.
  • Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions.
  • The lumbar plexus and its branches.
  • Psoas major muscle
  • Psoas major muscle
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