Gluteus Minimus Muscle

Authors

Affiliations

Nathaniel Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Overview

Muscle	Origin	Insertion	Innervation	Action
Gluteus Minimus	Ilium gluteal surface (inferior to gluteus medius origin)	Greater trochanter (anterolateral surface)	Superior gluteal n. L4 - S1	Entire mm.: Abduction, Frontal stabilization Anterior fibers: Flexion, IR Posterior fibers: Extension, ER (when <60° HF), IR (when &gt60° HF)

Origin

Ilium (gluteal surface below the origin of gluteus medius)¹

Insertion

Greater trochanter of the femur (anterolateral surface)¹

Innervation

The gluteus maximus muscle is innervated by nerve roots L4, L5, and S1, via the Superior gluteal nerve¹

Action

• Entire muscle: abducts the hip, stabilizes the pelvis in the coronal plane¹
• Anterior fibers: flexion and internal rotation¹
• Posterior fibers: extension and external rotation¹

At ≥60° hip flexion, the posterior fibers of the gluteus minimus switch and produce an internal rotation torque².

References

1.

Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.

2.

Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.