Logan Steele
The gemellus muscles are a pair of small triangle-shaped muscles found among the posterior hip and
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What You'll Learn
- The nerve to the quadratus femoris innervates the inferior gemellus muscle
- The superior gemellus muscle is supplied by the sacral plexus
- The superior and inferior gemelli muscles are located in the gluteal region
- The gemelli muscles are two of six short external rotator muscles
- The gemelli muscles assist in the external rotation of the thigh
The nerve to the quadratus femoris innervates the inferior gemellus muscle
The inferior gemellus muscle is located in the deep gluteal region of the lower extremity. It is part of a larger, tricipital (three-headed) muscle complex called triceps coxae (triceps of the hip), which also includes the superior gemellus and obturator internus muscles. The gemelli muscles are two of six short external rotator muscles in the gluteal region of the proximal thigh. The remaining external rotators include the piriformis, obturator internus, quadratus femoris, and obturator externus muscles.
The nerve to the quadratus femoris provides motor innervation to the quadratus femoris muscle and the inferior gemellus muscle. It also provides sensory innervation to the hip joint. The nerve to the quadratus femoris descends deep to the short external rotators, terminating in the deep surface of the quadratus femoris and supplying the inferior gemellus muscle en route.
The obturator internus and gemelli muscles separate the nerve to the quadratus femoris from the sciatic nerve. The nerve to the quadratus femoris and obturator internus frequently arise from a common root, and communication between these two nerves has been observed. The inferior gemellus muscle occasionally receives additional innervation by branches of the nerve to the obturator internus.
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The superior gemellus muscle is supplied by the sacral plexus
The superior gemellus is a small muscle located deep in the posterior pelvis. It is one of two gemellus muscles, the other being the inferior gemellus. The superior gemellus sits just inferior to (below) the piriformis muscle, and the inferior gemellus sits just superior to (above) it. Together, the two muscles are referred to as the gemelli muscles.
The superior gemellus originates from the posterior (gluteal) surface of the ischial spine of the bony pelvis. It courses laterally towards the femur, passing through the lesser sciatic foramen. The gemelli muscles, along with the obturator internus, insert on the posteromedial surface of the greater trochanter of the femur. The three muscles have their own origins but share a common insertion.
The superior gemellus is supplied by the sacral plexus, via the nerve to obturator internus (L5-S1/2). The muscle is also supplied by branches of the internal iliac artery; internal pudendal, inferior gluteal, and occasionally by the superior gluteal artery.
The primary function of the superior gemellus is the external (or lateral) rotation of the hip joint. It also assists in the abduction of the hip, although the force it can provide is weaker compared to larger muscles. The superior gemellus acts as part of the triceps coxae muscle group, which also includes the obturator internus and inferior gemellus. These muscles work together to produce external (lateral) rotation and abduction of the thigh.
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The superior and inferior gemelli muscles are located in the gluteal region
The superior and inferior gemelli muscles have separate origins and innervations. The nerve innervates the superior gemellus muscle to the obturator internus (L4-S2), and the nerve innervates the inferior gemellus to the quadratus femoris (L4-S1). Each of these nerves is a branch of the sacral plexus. The obturator internus nerve passes through the greater sciatic foramen as it exits the pelvis inferior to the piriformis muscle and provides innervation to the superior gemellus as it passes. The obturator internus then returns into the pelvis through the lesser sciatic foramen.
The gemelli muscles share a common function of stabilising the hip joint and externally rotating and abducting the thigh. They help to steady the femoral head in the acetabulum and laterally rotate the extended thigh. They also abduct the flexed thigh at the hip by assisting the internal obturator. The gemelli muscles act to compensate for the reduced power of the internal obturator as it turns around the lesser sciatic notch.
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The gemelli muscles are two of six short external rotator muscles
The human body contains two gemelli muscles: the superior gemellus and the inferior gemellus. They are two of six short external rotator muscles in the gluteal region of the proximal thigh. The remaining external rotators include the piriformis, obturator internus, quadratus femoris, and obturator externus muscles. The superior and inferior gemelli join the obturator internus as a conjoined tendon, sometimes referred to as the triceps coxae.
The superior gemellus muscle originates from the posterior (gluteal) surface of the ischial spine of the bony pelvis. It is a small muscle located deep in the posterior pelvis. Sitting underneath the larger muscles of the hip and thigh, specifically the gluteus maximus, it belongs to the group of deep gluteal muscles. The superior gemellus is supplied by the sacral plexus, via the nerve to obturator internus (L5-S1/2). The muscle is supplied by branches of the internal iliac artery; internal pudendal, inferior gluteal, and occasionally by the superior gluteal artery as well.
The inferior gemellus is a small, paired muscle located in the deep gluteal region of the lower extremity. It is part of a larger, tricipital (three-headed) muscle complex called triceps coxae (triceps of the hip) which also includes the superior gemellus and obturator internus muscles. The inferior gemellus forms part of the triceps coxae muscle complex, which is located in the deep layer of the gluteal region between the piriformis and quadratus femoris muscles. The inferior gemellus is overlaid superficially by the gluteus maximus muscle, while the hip joint is located deep, or anterior, to it. The nerve to quadratus femoris descends deep to the inferior gemellus after exiting the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen.
The gemelli muscles assist in external rotation of the thigh and have implications in sciatic nerve dysfunction known as deep gluteal space syndrome or gemelli-obturator syndrome. They are important surgical landmarks in the Kocher-Langenbeck and posterior approach to the hip, as well as essential for identifying and protecting the medial circumflex femoral artery.
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The gemelli muscles assist in the external rotation of the thigh
The human body is a fascinating structure, with many muscles working together to produce movement. The gemelli muscles, for instance, are a group of muscles that play a crucial role in the external rotation of the thigh. This group consists of the superior gemellus and the inferior gemellus muscles, which are both small and triangular in shape. These muscles are located in the deep gluteal region of the lower extremity, near the hip joint.
The superior gemellus muscle originates from the outer surface of the ischial spine of the bony pelvis. It belongs to the group of deep gluteal muscles and sits underneath the larger muscles of the hip and thigh. The superior gemellus joins with the inferior gemellus and obturator internus to form a conjoined tendon, sometimes called the triceps coxae. This tendon inserts into the medial surface of the greater trochanter of the femur. The superior gemellus is supplied by the sacral plexus, specifically the nerve to the obturator internus, which arises from the L5-S1/2 spinal nerves.
The inferior gemellus muscle, on the other hand, originates from the ischial tuberosity and extends to the greater trochanter of the femur. It is an accessory muscle to the obturator internus and is considered part of the triceps coxae muscle complex. The inferior gemellus receives its innervation from the nerve to the quadratus femoris, a branch of the sacral plexus formed by the L4/5 and S1 spinal nerves.
Together, the superior and inferior gemelli muscles assist in the external rotation of the thigh. They work alongside the obturator internus and other muscles in the gluteal region, such as the piriformis, quadratus femoris, and obturator externus, to produce this movement. The gemelli muscles are important not only for rotation but also for stabilising the hip joint and abducting the thigh.
The gemelli muscles have clinical significance, particularly in surgical procedures involving the hip. They serve as essential landmarks in approaches such as the Kocher-Langenbeck and posterior approach to the hip. Additionally, the gemelli muscles play a role in identifying and protecting the medial circumflex femoral artery during surgical interventions.
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Frequently asked questions
The gemellus muscles are the inferior gemellus muscle and the superior gemellus muscle. They are two small triangle-shaped muscles found among the posterior hip and gluteal musculature in the posterior proximal lower extremity.
The inferior gemellus muscle is innervated by the nerve to quadratus femoris, which is a branch of the sacral plexus. The superior gemellus muscle is supplied by the sacral plexus, via the nerve to obturator internus.
The gemellus muscles assist in external rotation of the thigh and help to steady the femoral head in the acetabulum. They are also important surgical landmarks in the Kocher-Langenbeck and posterior approach to the hip.
