Gluteus maximus muscle

Musculus gluteus maximus

Related terms: Gluteus maximus

Antoine Micheau and Muhammad A. Javaid

Gluteus maximus muscle (muscle group: Superficial gluteal muscles)
Origin	Gluteal surface of ilium, lumbar fascia, sacrum, coccyx, sacrotuberous ligament
Insertion	Gluteal tuberosity of the femur, iliotibial tract
Blood supply	Superior and inferior gluteal arteries
Innervation	Inferior gluteal nerves (L5 to S2)
Action	External rotation and extension of the hip joint, supports the extended knee through theiliotibial tract, chief antigravity muscle in sitting
Antagonist	Iliacus, Psoas major, Psoas minor

The gluteus maximus is the largest, thickest, and most superficial muscle of the gluteal region. It forms the bulk and contour of the buttock and is a broad, quadrilateral, coarse-textured muscle made up of thick fascicles arranged in parallel bundles, separated by fibrous septa.

Origin

The gluteus maximus muscle fibres have a wide area of origin, arising from the:

Posterior gluteal line of the ilium, and rough bone above and behind it including part of the iliac crest,
Dorsal surface of the sacrum and coccyx,
Aponeurosis of sacrospinalis (erector spinae) of the back,
Sacrotuberous ligament,
Gluteal aponeurosis or fascia covering over the gluteus medius (note: gluteus medius lies underneath the gluteus maximus muscle).

Insertion

Superficial and upper fibres: end up in a thick tendinous lamina that crosses the greater trochanter to insert into the iliotibial band of the fascia lata.
Deeper lower fibres: attach directly to the gluteal tuberosity at the back of the shaft of the femur.

Functions

Action	Description
Hip Extension	Chief extensor of the thigh, especially from a flexed position (e.g., standing up, running, climbing stairs). It works synergistically with the hamstrings and erector spinae to extend the trunk and hip simultaneously.
Lateral Rotation	Assists in external (lateral) rotation of the thigh.
Postural Stability	Maintains upright trunk posture by preventing hip flexion under the weight of the body.
Knee Support	Via the iliotibial band/tract, helps stabilize the knee joint during full extension.

Relations

It covers over several structures that lie deep to it, including the gluteus medius and minimus muscles, short lateral rotators of thigh (piriformis, gemelli, obturator internus, quadratus femoris), the sciatic nerve, inferior gluteal nerve, and the posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh.

References

Elzanie A, Borger J. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb, Gluteus Maximus Muscle. [Updated 2023 Apr 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538193/