Muscles that Cause Movement at the Hip Joint
The four main groups of hip muscles are gluteal, adductor, iliopsoas, and lateral rotator, defined by the type of movement they mediate.
Key Points
The gluteus maximus extends the hip, while the gluteus medius and minimus are involved in hip rotation and abduction (moving hip out from the midline).
The adductor group (adductor brevis, longus, and magnus along with petineus and gracilis) moves the femur towards the midline from an abducted position.
The iliopsoas group of muscles (iliacus and psoas major) is responsible for hip flexion.
The lateral rotator group of muscles (externus and internus obturators, the piriformis, the superior and inferior gemelli, and the quadratus femoris) turns the anterior surface of the femur outward. This motion is aided by the gluteus maximus and the adductor magnus.
Key Terms
adductor group: The adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, pectineus, and gracilis.
lateral rotator group: The externus and internus obturators, the piriformis, the superior and inferior gemelli, and the quadratus femoris.
gluteal group: The gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae.
iliopsoas group: The iliacus and psoas major.
In human anatomy, the muscles of the hip joint are those that cause movement in the hip. Hip joint muscles are divided into four groups according to their orientation and function. Movement at the hip is similar to that of the shoulder joint, but due to increased weight-bearing requirements the range of potential movements is reduced.
