Anatomy study note · Lower limb

Gluteus maximus

The largest muscle in the body, forming the prominence of the buttock.

Key points

• Ilium, sacrum, coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament → iliotibial tract + gluteal tuberosity.
• Inferior gluteal nerve.
• Hip extension (climbing stairs, rising from sitting) + lateral rotation.
• Injections: upper outer quadrant.
• Limb muscles: in situ from limb-bud mesenchyme.
• Upper limb bud C4–T2; lower limb bud L2–S2.
• Skeletal muscle: multinucleated, peripheral nuclei, striated.
• Epimysium → perimysium → endomysium.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Origin · Insertion · Action · Nerve supply · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

Sign in free to see it on the 3D model, read the full note and practise questions on it.

Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 1281–1283
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 7, PDF p. 109; ch. 10, PDF pp. 142–145
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 8, PDF pp. 135–144

More from the lower limb

• Gluteus medius
• Gluteus minimus
• Gracilis
• Great saphenous vein
• Hip joint
• Inguinal lymph nodes
• Interossei of the foot
• Joints of the forefoot and toes
• Knee joint
• Menisci of the knee
• Metatarsal bones
• Patella

Privacy policy · Designed by DATXOC LLC.