Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology

170 Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology

Lateral Muscles of the Hip

The lateral muscles of the hip include the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae.

They all cross lateral to the axis of the hip joint for abduction-adduction and so share the common

action of hip abduction, used in movements such as a parallel side tendu or dégagé. These muscles

also play a very important stabilizing role in standing and locomotion. When the weight is on one leg,

these muscles act to prevent the pelvis from dropping down on the opposite side or the support femur

from excessively adducting (“sitting in the hip”).

Attachments and Primary Actions of Deep Outward Rotators

Muscle Proximal attachment(s) Distal attachment(s) Primary action(s)

Deep outward rotators

Piriformis

(PIR-i-form-is)

Anterior surface of

sacrum, posterior ilium

Superior surface of greater

trochanter of femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Obturator internus

(ob-tu-RA-tor in-TER-nus)

Internal surface of

obturator foramen and

obturator membrane,

ischium

Medial surface of greater

trochanter of femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Obturator externus

(ob-tu-RA-tor ek-STER-nus)

Rami of pubis and ischium

and external surface of

obturator membrane

Adjacent to greater

trochanter on upper,

posterior femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Gemellus superior

(je-ME-lis)

Posterior, lower part of

ischium

With obturator internus

muscle to medial aspect of

greater trochanter of femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Gemellus inferior

(je-ME-lis)

Ischial tuberosity With obturator internus

muscle to medial aspect of

greater trochanter of femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Quadratus femoris

(kwod-RA-tus FEM-o-ris)

Lateral ischial tuberosity The crest between

the greater and lesser

trochanter on posterior

femur

Hip external rotation

Stabilization of hip joint

Attachments and Primary Actions of Gluteus Medius and Minimus Muscles

Muscle Proximal attachment(s) Distal attachment(s) Primary action(s)

Gluteus medius

(GLOO-tee-us ME-dee-us)

Outer surface of ilium Lateral surface of greater

trochanter of femur

Hip abduction

Hip internal rotation

Stabilization of pelvis on femur

Gluteus minimus

(GLOO-tee-us MI-ni-mus)

Lower outer surface of

ilium

Anterolateral aspect of

greater trochanter of

femur

Hip abduction

Hip internal rotation

Stabilization of pelvis on femur

Gluteus Medius and Minimus

The gluteus medius (G. gloutos, buttock + medius, middle) is located on the side of the ilium as shown

in figure 4.10A. It provides the rounded contour to the side of the pelvis, although its posterior fibers

are covered by the gluteus maximus and its anterior fibers by the tensor fasciae latae. The gluteus

medius is the largest of the lateral muscles and is the most fundamental hip abductor, while the gluteus