What Is the Gluteus Maximus?

The gluteus maximus is one of the posterior hip muscles. It is a wide quadrangle, located under the gluteal skin, starting from the outside of the hip bone and the back of the sacrum, with the fibers slanting outward and downward, covering the greater trochanter, ending at the gluteal muscles of the femur. This muscle can stretch the thighs back and rotate outwards. When the lower limbs are fixed, the trunk is straightened and the trunk is prevented from leaning forward to maintain body balance. Dominated by the inferior gluteal nerve (lumbar 5, iliac 1-2). Due to this muscle hypertrophy, the buttocks are the most commonly used site for intramuscular injection.

The gluteus maximus is one of the posterior hip muscles. It is a wide quadrangle, located under the gluteal skin, starting from the outside of the hip bone and the back of the sacrum, with the fibers slanting outward and downward, covering the greater trochanter, ending at the gluteal muscles of the femur. This muscle can stretch the thighs back and rotate outwards. When the lower limbs are fixed, the trunk is straightened and the trunk is prevented from leaning forward to maintain body balance. Dominated by the inferior gluteal nerve (lumbar 5, iliac 1-2). Due to this muscle hypertrophy, the buttocks are the most commonly used site for intramuscular injection.

Chinese name

Gluteus maximus

Foreign name

gluteus maximus

Function

Back extension and external rotation of thighs

Innervation

Inferior gluteal innervation

Gluteus maximus overview

Superior gluteal artery: The superior gluteal artery is the same as the internal iliac artery, and pelvises out from the sciatic nerve and internal genital artery. 89.6% of the inferior gluteal artery penetrated into the hip from the inferior piriformis. 10.4% is absent. The superficial branch of the superior gluteal artery spans the lower surface of the piriformis instead of the inferior gluteal artery. The inferior gluteal artery divides the muscular branch of the total gluteus maximus, which is 42 mm long from the inferior piriformis to the entrance point. Gluteus major 3/4 and skin in this area. The diameter of the inferior gluteal artery from the piriformis hole is 3.52 ± 0.74 mm. The inferior gluteal artery is divided into some large skin branches. It is called the direct cutaneous artery of the interstitial space. Walk between and enter the skin on the lower edge of the gluteus maximus. The dermal branch has 2 to 3 branches, the ascending branch is distributed on the buttocks skin, and the descending branch accompanies the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve to the upper part of the popliteal fossa, and many small branches enter the skin along the way. The position of the surface of the inferior gluteal artery is equivalent to the inside of the 1/3 intersection of the ischial tuberosity to the greater trochanter line, about 1 cm from this line. Accompanying veins of the inferior gluteal artery. On the deep side of the gluteus maximus, the branches of the inferior gluteal artery supply nearby muscles and hip joints. The inferior gluteal artery supplies the skin from the junction of the middle and lower 1/3 of the hip to the popliteal fossa. edge.

Hip: The bulge below the back waist and above the thighs. The upper boundary of the gluteal region is the condyle, the lower boundary is the gluteal groove, the lateral side is the broad fascia tensalis muscle, and the medial side is the lateral edges of the sacrum and coccyx. The shape of the hips is caused by a large amount of fat and thick gluteal muscles. The buttocks have thicker skin and developed a superficial fascia. A fat pad is formed at the lower back to support the body's pressure when sitting. The gluteal muscle is divided into three layers: the superficial layer includes the gluteus maximus and the latissimus fasciatus; the middle layer includes the gluteus medius, piriformis, diaphragm, the obturator and the femoral muscles; the deep gluteal muscle and the obturator muscle. The blood vessels and nerves of the hip include the superior and inferior gluteal arteries and veins, the sciatic nerve and the inferior gluteal nerve.

Gluteus maximus anatomy:

The gluteus maximus is located under the skin of the buttocks, and is a rectangular and thick flat muscle. Starting from the posterior gluteal line, the back of the sacrum, the back of the sacrum and the coccyx, the back fascia and the sacral nodule ligament. The muscle fibers slant outward and downward, the upper muscle fibers pass over the greater trochanter, and the aponeurosis travels to the deep side of the iliotibial bundle. The lower muscle fibers stop at the femoral gluteus trochanter with a thick tendon plate. The role of this muscle, when nearly fixed, mainly causes the thigh to extend backward, followed by adduction and external rotation. When the distance is fixed, the pelvis is tilted backwards, the trunk is extended, and the human body maintains an upright posture. This muscle plays an important role in running the thigh when running and jumping. Exercises such as rear kicks, rear kicks, and prone back legs can develop the strength of the gluteus maximus. The gluteus maximus is dominated by the inferior gluteal nerve (sacral plexus L5 to S2).

Gluteus maximus

Location: Subcutaneously on the buttocks on the lateral outside of the pelvis.

Starting point: outside of the metatarsal wings, the iliac crest, the back of the coccyx, and the sacrotuberous ligament.

Stops: trochanteric femoral glutes and sacroiliac tract.

Innervation nerve: the inferior gluteal nerve from the spinal phrenic plexus.

Function: Near fixation allows the thigh to extend and rotate outwards at the hip joint; contraction of the upper half of the muscles allows abduction of the thighs, and contraction of the lower half allows adduction of the thighs.

The distal fixation contracted, turning the pelvis to the opposite side. Both sides contract at the same time to make the pelvis lean back. And torso extension, to maintain the balance of the body standing.

Examples of auxiliary exercises to develop gluteal muscle strength (1) Prone "back legs", knee extensions, and back pedal exercises.

Examples of auxiliary exercises to develop gluteal muscle strength (2) Weight barbell step up, standing long jump, weight barbell squat, and weight leg flexion and extension.

Gluteus maximus and gluteus maximus-related diseases

Gluteus contracture

Also known as gluteal muscle fibrosis, injectable gluteus maximus contracture, and children's hip abduction contracture. It is due to the degeneration of hip muscles and fascia fibers, causing contracture of the tissue in this area, leading to hip abduction, external rotation deformity, and flexion disorders. The cause is unknown. Occurs in children, and has a history of repeated gluteal injections. All patients showed abnormal posture and special gait. Patients with bilateral lesions showed an outside eight-character gait when standing or walking, especially when running or going upstairs. When sitting on the stool, the legs cannot be closed together. During the squatting process, the knees must be separated to perform a "circle" motion outward, which is a typical "frog position". Neutral hip flexion is less than 40 °. Only abduction and external rotation can complete hip flexion. Tough cables can be felt subcutaneously on the buttocks and extend down to the greater trochanter of the femur. When the hip joint is flexed and stretched, the cable slides on the surface of the greater trochanter with a popping sound, sometimes accompanied by pain.

Most are caused by contracture of the hip muscles caused by intramuscular injection. Often occurs in childhood: the main clinical manifestations are abnormal gait and knees cannot be squashed or the hips pop when squatting. The hips may touch the contracture bands consistent with the direction of the muscle fibers. The disease is mainly for prevention. For patients with gluteal muscle contracture that have not been treated, non-surgical treatment can be performed with partial resection of the gluteal muscle contracture band or partial resection of the gluteal muscle.

Gluteus muscle contracture is also known as gluteal muscle contracture in children, injectable gluteus maximus muscle contracture, gluteal muscle fascial contracture, gluteal muscle fibrosis, and hip abduction contracture in children. It is a fibrotic contracture of the gluteal muscle and its fascia, secondary to hip joint adduction, internal rotation dysfunction, and then manifested as a unique clinical disorder of gait, posture and signs. Clinically, there is a history of repeated intramuscular injections of the buttocks. X-ray examination was normal, and a few may have secondary changes, such as an increase in the acetabular index, an increase in the CE angle, an increase in the neck-stem angle, and a slight external rotation of the pelvis.