The gluteus medius is a fan-shaped muscles which lies superficial to the gluteus minimus muscle.
The gluteal region consists of two groups of muscles:
- Deep group: small muscles which mainly laterally rotate the femur at the hip joint. These include the piriformis, obturator internus, gemellus superior, gemellus inferior, and quadratus femoris.
- Superficial group: larger muscles which cause abduction and extension of the femur at the hip joint. These include the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimis and the tensor fascia latae.
Origin
- Dorsal ilium inferior to iliac crest
Insertion
- Lateral and superior surfaces of greater trochanter
Action
- Hip abduction
- Hip medial rotation (anterior fibres)
- Hip lateral rotation (posterior fibres)
Innervation
- Superior gluteal nerve: L4,L5,S1
Blood Supply
- Superior gluteal artery