THE GLUTEAL REGION: MUSCULATURE AND LIGAMENTS

What is the gluteal region?

It is the anatomical area located posteriorly to the pelvic girdle, extending superiorly from the iliac crest to the gluteal fold inferiorly.

What indicates the lower border of the Gluteus Maximus?

The gluteal fold

What separates the two buttocks?

The natal (intergluteal groove)

What are the components of the gluteal region

There are seven components of the gluteal region:

The skin

The fasciae

Muscles

Bones

Vessels

Nerves

Ligaments

There are two fasciae in the gluteal region, what are they?

The superficial fascia

The deep fascia

What does the superficial fascia of the gluteal region do?

It gives the characteristic convexity of the buttocks

It forms a thick cushion over the ischial tuberosity

Name the quadrants of the superficial fascia.

The upper medial quadrant

The upper lateral quadrant

The lower medial quadrant

The lower lateral quadrant

What arteries supply the fat and skin of the gluteal region?

The gluteal region is supplied by perforating branches of the inferior and superior gluteal arteries.

What lymphatic vessels does the gluteal region drain to?

The superficial Inguinal Lymph nodes

What is the deep fascia of the gluteal region?

The is the continuation of the fascia lata of the thigh.

What are the bones of the gluteal region?

The hip bone or coxal bone

The hip joint

The femur

How many ligaments are in the gluteal region?

There are two ligaments in the gluteal region

The sacrospinous ligament

The sacrospinous ligament connects the sacrum the the ischial spine.

The sacrotuberous ligament

It connects the sacrum to the ischial tuberosity

What do the ligaments of the gluteal region do?

The covert the greater and lesser sciatic notches into the greater and lesser sciatic foramina.

What are the functions of the ligaments

1. They stabilize the sacrum

2. They prevent the posterior rotation at the sacroiliac joint

What is the landmark at the center of the greater sciatic foramen?

The piriformis

What structures pass through the greater sciatic foramen above the piriformis?

The superior gluteal vessels and nerves

What structures pass through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis?

1. inferior gluteal vessels and nerves

2. The pudendal nerve and internal pudendal vessels

3. The sciatic nerve

4. The nerve to the obturator internus

5. The nerve to the quadratus femoris

6. The posterior cutaneous nerve

What structures pass through the lesser sciatic foramen?

The pudendal nerve and the internal pudendal vessels enter the foramen while the tendon to the obturator internus and the nerve to the obturator nerve exit the foramen.

The superficial extensor and abductor muscles are the large muscles of the gluteal region that abduct and extend the humerus. Name them:

1. The gluteus Maximus

2. The gluteus medius

3. The gluteus minimus

4. The tensor fascia lata

The deep lateral rotator muscles are the smaller muscles of the gluteal region that laterally rotate the femur. There are five of them, what are they?

1. The piriformis

2. The quadratus femoris

3. The Gemellus superior

4. The gemellus inferior

5. The obturator internus

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the body and forms the prominence of the buttocks. What is its origin and insertion?

The gluteus Maximus originates from:

1. The outer surface of ilium behind the posterior gluteal line

2. The lumbar fascia

3. The posterior surface of the sacrum and the coccyx

4. The sacrotuberous ligament

The gluteus Maximus inserts into:

1. Three fourths of the muscle inserts into the iliotibial tract

2. Deep fibers insert into the gluteal tuberosity

What is the innervation of the gluteus Maximus?

The inferior gluteal nerve

The gluteus Maximus is the only superficial muscle that is a lateral rotator of the hip, what are its other actions?

1. It extends and laterally rotates the hip joint

2. It extends the knee joint

3. It stabilizes the hip and knee joint via the iliotibial tract

What is the insertion and the origin of the gluteus medius?

It originates from the outer surface of the ilium between the posterior and medial gluteal line. It inserts into the lateral surface of the greater trochanter.

What is the origin and insertion of the gluteus minimus?

It originates from the outer surface of the ilium and inserts into the anterior surface of the greater trochanter

What muscles are innervated by the superior gluteal artery and medially rotate and abduct the thigh?

The gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus

What is the origin of the tensor fascia lata?

It originates from the outer edge of the iliac crest, between the anterior superior iliac spine and the the iliac tubercle

What is the insertion of the tensor fascia lata?

The iliotibial tract

What is the innervation and action of the tensor fascia lata?

innervated by the superior gluteal nerve and maintains the knee in an extended position.