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Gluteus medius
The gluteus medius and nearby muscles
Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions with origin and insertion of gluteus medius muscle labeled
Gray's	subject #128 474
Origin:	Gluteal surface of ilium, under gluteus maximus
Insertion:	Greater trochanter of the femur
Artery:	superior gluteal artery
Nerve:	superior gluteal nerve (L4, L5, S1 nerve roots)
Action:	abduction of the hip; preventing adduction of the hip. Medial rotation of thigh.
Antagonist:	lateral rotator group

The gluteus medius, one of the three gluteal muscles, is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis.

Its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and integument.

Contents 1 Origin and insertion 2 Relations 3 Action 4 Variations 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 External links

It arises from the outer surface of the ilium between the iliac crest and posterior gluteal line above, and the anterior gluteal line below; it also arises from the gluteal aponeurosis covering its outer surface.

The fibers converge to a strong flattened tendon, which is inserted into the oblique ridge which runs downward and forward on the lateral surface of the greater trochanter.

A bursa separates the tendon of the muscle from the surface of the trochanter over which it glides.

The Glutæi medius and minimus abduct the thigh, when the limb is extended, and are principally called into action in supporting the body on one limb, in conjunction with the Tensor fasciæ latæ.

Their anterior fibers, by drawing the greater trochanter forward, rotate the thigh inward, in which action they are also assisted by the Tensor fasciæ latæ. When the hip is flexed to ninety degrees however the glutæi medius aids in rotating the thigh outwards.

The posterior border may be more or less closely united to the piriformis, or some of the fibers end on its tendon.

The posterior fibres of gluteus medius contract to produce hip extension, lateral rotation and abduction. During gait, the posterior fibres help to decelerate internal rotation of the femur at the end of swing phase.

Right hip bone. External surface.	Right femur. Posterior surface.	Structures surrounding right hip-joint.	The arteries of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
Nerves of the right lower extremity Posterior view.	Surface anatomy of the back.

• Trendelenburg gait

• -200933297 at GPnotebook
• LUC glmd
• SUNY Labs 13:st-0404
• Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-15

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e List of muscles of lower limbs
ILIAC REGION/ILIOPSOAS	psoas major/psoas minor - iliacus
BUTTOCKS	gluteals: (maximus, medius, minimus) - tensor fasciae latae lateral rotator group: piriformis - obturator externus/obturator internus - inferior gemellus/superior gemellus - quadratus femoris
THIGH	anterior compartment: sartorius - quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius, vastus medialis) - articularis genu posterior compartment/hamstring: biceps femoris - semitendinosus, semimembranosus medial compartment/adductor: gracilis - pectineus - adductor brevis - adductor longus - adductor magnus
LEG	anterior compartment: tibialis anterior - extensor hallucis longus - extensor digitorum longus - fibularis tertius posterior compartment: superficial - calf/triceps surae (gastrocnemius, soleus) - plantaris - deep - popliteus - tarsal tunnel (flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior) lateral compartment: fibularis muscles (longus, brevis)
FOOT	dorsal - extensor digitorum brevis - extensor hallucis brevis plantar - 1st layer (abductor hallucis, flexor digitorum brevis, abductor digiti minimi) - 2nd layer (quadratus plantae, lumbrical muscle) - 3rd layer (flexor hallucis brevis, adductor hallucis - flexor digiti minimi brevis) - 4th layer (dorsal interossei, plantar interossei)