Quick Facts
Origin: Area of ilium located between anterior and inferior gluteal lines.
Insertion: Anterolateral aspect of greater trochanter of femur.
Action: Medially rotates and abducts thigh at hip joint.
Innervation: Superior gluteal nerve (L5-S1).
Arterial Supply: Deep branch of superior gluteal artery.
Related parts of the anatomy
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.
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Gluteus Minimus Muscle
gluteus medius and minimus muscles: the deeper significant muscles (hip abductors) that abduct the hip and prevent a waddling or Trendelenburg gait.
