Gluteus Maximus

The Gluteus Maximus

Introduction

The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles.

It makes up the shape and appearance of the buttocks.

Broad - thick - fleshy mass

Quadrilateral shape

The fibers are directed obliquely downward and lateralward;

Maintains the trunk in the erect posture.

Origin

Gluteal surface of ilium, lumbar fascia, sacrum, sacrotuberous ligament

Insertion

Gluteal tuberosity of the femur, iliotibial tract

Artery

superior and inferior gluteal arteries

Nerve

Iinferior gluteal nerve (L5, S1, S2 nerve roots)

Action

External rotation and extension of the hip joint

Supports the extended knee through the iliotibial tract

Its most powerful action is to cause the body to regain the erect position after stooping, by drawing the pelvis backward,

The gluteus maximus is also a main muscle used in many sports such as volleyball, hockey, basketball, soccer, and football.

Antagonists

Iliacus, Psoas major, Psoas minor

Bursae

Three bursae

one bursa separates it from the greater trochanter;

one bursa situated on the tuberosity of the ischium;

one bursa between its tendon and the tendon of the vastus lateralis.

Applied Anatomy

Trendelenberg sign - When the gluteus maximus muscle is paralysed, the hip on the opposite (normal) side drops instead of being lifted up when the opposite (normal) side foot is raised from the ground → waddling gait.

Additional information not for answering

Gluteus medius and minimus are two thirds of the gluteal group that also includes gluteus maximus. Gluteus maximus differs from gluteus medius in that it is an extensor muscle while gluteus medius and minimus are rotators, abductors (pull the leg away from the body), and dynamic stabilizers.

In between gluteus medius and minimus and gluteus maximus we have the piriformis muscle, an external rotator that along with gluteus maximus connects the legs to the spine from the back of the body.

It is fairly easy to test the strength of gluteus medius—stand on one leg and see what happens to your pelvis. Does it drop on one side or pull backwards? Ideally the muscles of the standing hip stabilize and nothing needs to shift in the pelvis.

Weak or inhibited gluteus medius and minimus muscles often correlate to a tight piriformis muscle. If the piriformis is tight it limits the available space that the gluteus medius and minimus have in order to function.

If the piriformis is weak, or loose, it will create a different set of problem for the gluteal muscles. To a certain degree the piriformis helps to stabilize the pelvis and its lack of tone can negatively affect the activity of gluteus medius and minimus.

There is basically a belt of muscles surrounding the pelvis – the three gluteal muscles, the psoas, piriformis, tensor fascia latae rectus femoris— that all suffer if one suffers.

To that end, a tight IT band and tensor fasciae latae particularly impact gluteus medius and minimus. For the most part people with tight IT bands also tend to be tight in the gluteus maximus and piriformis.

It is a vicious cycle that is ultimately fixed by realigning the pelvis with the legs under the hips and learning to walk in a way that uses all of our muscles correctly.

The CoreWalking Program has had great success alleviating many issues with the spine because learning to walk correctly means moving optimally—and this limits the unnecessary stresses that can lead to pain and injury.