
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region, commonly known as the buttocks. These muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The gluteal muscles originate from the ilium and sacrum and insert on the femur. They are responsible for extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gluteal muscles, often called glutes |
| Number of muscles | Three |
| Muscle names | Gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus |
| Muscle function | Extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint |
| Muscle shape | Narrow and thick fleshy mass of a quadrilateral shape |
| Muscle location | Originate from the ilium and sacrum and insert on the femur |
| Muscle appearance | Forms the prominence of the buttocks |
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What You'll Learn
- The gluteal muscles are a group of three muscles: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus
- The gluteal muscles are often referred to as the buttock muscles
- The gluteal muscles are found in the gluteal region, an area overlying the posterior aspect of the pelvic girdle and the proximal part of the femur
- The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles
- The gluteal muscles are important for activities of daily living, athletic performance, and stability of certain joints in the body

The gluteal muscles are a group of three muscles: the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region commonly known as the buttocks. These muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles. It makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of the hips. It is a narrow and thick fleshy mass of a quadrilateral shape, and forms the prominence of the buttocks. The gluteus medius is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. It lies beneath the gluteus maximus and its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and skin. The gluteus medius and minimus act to stabilise the pelvis, for example, in a single-leg stance, which accounts for 30% of our normal gait cycle.
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The gluteal muscles are often referred to as the buttock muscles
The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles. It makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of the hips. It is a narrow and thick fleshy mass of a quadrilateral shape, and forms the prominence of the buttocks. The gluteus maximus is also the strongest muscle in the body.
The gluteus medius is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. It lies underneath the gluteus maximus and its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and skin. The gluteus medius and minimus act to stabilise the pelvis, for example in a single-leg stance, which accounts for 30% of our normal gait cycle.
Weak gluteal muscles have been associated with a variety of lower limb issues.
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The gluteal muscles are found in the gluteal region, an area overlying the posterior aspect of the pelvic girdle and the proximal part of the femur
The gluteal muscles, often referred to as the glutes, are a group of three muscles that make up the gluteal region, otherwise known as the buttocks. These muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The gluteal muscles are found in the gluteal region, an area overlying the posterior aspect of the pelvic girdle and the proximal part of the femur.
The gluteal muscles originate from the ilium and sacrum and insert on the femur. They are responsible for the extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles. It makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of the hips. It is a narrow and thick fleshy mass of a quadrilateral shape, and forms the prominence of the buttocks.
The gluteus medius is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. It lies beneath the gluteus maximus and its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and skin. The gluteus medius and minimus are important for stabilising the pelvis, for example, during a single-leg stance, which accounts for 30% of our normal gait cycle.
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The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region, commonly known as the buttocks. These muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles. It makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of the hips. It is a narrow and thick fleshy mass of a quadrilateral shape, and forms the prominence of the buttocks. The gluteus maximus is the strongest muscle in the body. It is our most powerful hip extensor. The gluteal muscles are found in the gluteal region, an area overlying the posterior aspect of the pelvic girdle and the proximal part of the femur. The gluteus medius is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. It lies beneath the gluteus maximus.
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The gluteal muscles are important for activities of daily living, athletic performance, and stability of certain joints in the body
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region, commonly known as the buttocks. These muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus is the largest and strongest muscle in the body. It makes up a large part of the shape and appearance of the hips. The gluteus medius is a broad, thick, radiating muscle, situated on the outer surface of the pelvis. It lies beneath the gluteus maximus and its posterior third is covered by the gluteus maximus, its anterior two-thirds by the gluteal aponeurosis, which separates it from the superficial fascia and skin. The gluteal muscles are important for activities of daily living, athletic performance, and stability of certain joints in the body. The gluteus maximus is our most powerful hip extensor. If the gluteus medius and minimus were not contracting properly, the pelvis would drop towards the opposite side and the trunk would lean towards the opposite side. This is because the gluteus medius and minimus act to stabilise the pelvis, for example in a single-leg stance, which accounts for 30% of our normal gait cycle. Weak gluteal muscles have been associated with a variety of lower limb issues.
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Frequently asked questions
The gluteal muscles, often called glutes, are a group of three muscles which make up the gluteal region, commonly known as the buttocks.
The three gluteal muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus.
The gluteal muscles are responsible for extension, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the hip joint.
The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the three gluteal muscles. It is also the largest and strongest muscle in the body.









































