"

5.10 Muscles of the Hip

Hip Flexor Group, Gluteus Medius, and Gluteus Maximus

Anterior view of the Gluteus Medius (dissected), the Hip Flexor Group, and Gluteus Maximus (dissected).
Image by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0. Modified text labels.

Anterior view of the Gluteus Medius (dissected), the Hip Flexor Group, and Gluteus Maximus (dissected).
Image by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0. Modified text labels.
Location of the iliacus and psoas major
Image by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0  Modified text labels

Hip Flexor Group

Action: Flexion of the hip.

Made up of the iliacus and psoas major.

 

Location of Gluteus maximus (cut)
Image by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0  Modified text labels

Gluteus Maximus

Action: Extension and external rotation of the hip.

The gluteus maximus (‘butt muscle’) is named for its size and location. Gluteus refers to its location within the gluteal region, and maximus refers to it being not only the largest muscle in the gluteal region but also the largest muscle in the human body.

Location of Gluteus Medius
Image by OpenStax, CC BY 4.0  Modified text labels

Gluteus Medius

Action: Abduction of the hip.

The gluteus medius is named for its location. Gluteus refers to its location within the gluteal region, and medius (Latin for ‘middle’) refers to it being in the middle of the gluteus maximus and minimus.

 

 

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

The Foundations of Human Movement and Physical Fitness Copyright © 2025 by A.J. Stephen; Sarah Fraser; and Connor Dalton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book