Gluteus Minimus Muscle

Origin

The gluteus minimus muscle originates from the area of the gluteal surface of ilium that is located between the anterior and inferior gluteal lines.

Insertion

The fibers of the gluteus minimus muscle travel inferolaterally and insert onto the anterolateral aspect of the greater trochanter of the femur.

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The gluteus minimus muscle is one of the superficial gluteal muscles. It is a thick, convergent type of skeletal muscle.

It is located:

- superficial to the ilium, the capsule of the hip joint, and the trochanteric bursa of gluteus medius muscle;

- deep to the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae muscles;

- superior to the piriformis muscle.

Actions & Testing

The gluteus minimus muscle is involved in multiple actions:

- medially rotates the thigh at the hip joint;

- abducts the thigh at the hip joint;

- helps steady the pelvis when the opposite foot is raised off the ground during walking and running.

The gluteus minimus muscle can be tested by medially rotating the thigh at the hip joint against resistance while lying in the supine position with both the hip and knee joints flexed, during which it can be palpated (Standring, 2016).

List of Clinical Correlates

- Trendelenburg sign

References

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41st edn.: Elsevier Limited.