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The hip joint is a ball and socket joint that provides dynamic support for the weight of the body while facilitating force and load transmission from the axial skeleton to the lower extremities, allowing mobility. Hip muscles play a pivotal role in lower body movement and stability. The hip joint is a multiaxial joint that permits a wide range of motion, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation, internal rotation, and circumduction. The hip muscles can be divided into two main categories: the muscles of the hip joint and the muscles of the hip girdle. The muscles of the hip joint directly facilitate the movement of the hip joint, while the muscles of the hip girdle offer stability and support to the hip joint. The hip flexor muscles are situated at the front of the hip and are responsible for hip flexion – moving the leg forward or bringing the thigh toward the chest. The hip extensors are located at the back of the hip and buttock area and are responsible for hip extension – moving the leg backward. The hip adductors are positioned on the inner side of the thigh and bring the leg toward the body's midline, while the hip abductors are located on the outer side of the hip and move the leg away from the body's midline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hip muscles | 21 |
| Hip muscles groups | 5 |
| Hip muscles that contribute to hip flexion | iliacus, psoas, pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius |
| Prime movers (agonist) for hip flexion | Psoas major muscle |
| Hip flexor muscles | Iliopsoas |
| Hip extensor muscles | Gluteus maximus |
| Hip adductor muscles | Adductor magnus, pectineus |
| Hip abductor muscles | Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus |
| Hip rotator muscles | Sartorius, piriformis |
| Hip muscles that cause lateral rotation | Each muscle of the lateral rotator group |
| Hip muscles that cause medial rotation | Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, tensor fasciae latae, adductors brevis and longus, and superior portion of the adductor magnus |
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What You'll Learn
Iliopsoas group: iliacus, psoas major, and psoas minor
The iliopsoas group of muscles is made up of the iliacus, psoas major, and psoas minor. These muscles are responsible for flexing the hip and thigh and externally rotating the thigh. The iliopsoas is the body's most important hip flexor and is the strongest flexor of the hip joint.
The iliacus is a large, triangular-shaped muscle that lies over the surface of the ilium, lateral to the lower part of the psoas major and psoas minor muscles. Its fibres merge with the fibres of the psoas major muscle around the inguinal ligament to form the iliopsoas muscle. The iliopsoas tendon is separated from the hip joint by a large subtendinous iliac bursa. The iliacus is innervated by the femoral nerve (L2-L4) and receives its blood supply from the iliolumbar, lumbar, obturator, external iliac, and femoral arteries.
The psoas major is a long, thick, and powerful muscle located in the lateral lumbar region between the vertebral column and the brim of the lesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliopsoas and is surrounded by the iliac fascia. The psoas major originates from the lumbar vertebrae and inserts onto the lesser trochanter of the femur. It is innervated by the anterior rami of L1-L3 nerves.
The psoas minor is a long, thin, and fusiform muscle that lies anterior to the psoas major. It is present in about 40% of people and has the same function as the psoas major. Like the psoas major, it is innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerves L1-L3.
The iliopsoas group of muscles is important for postural stability and helps to maintain the standing posture. People who sit for long periods may have shorter iliopsoas muscles, which can affect the pelvis and change the way they walk.
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Hip flexors: pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius
The hip flexors are a group of muscles that are primarily responsible for flexing the hip joint. The pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius are three of the hip flexor muscles.
The pectineus acts as a hip flexor and secondary adductor. It originates on the superior pubic ramus and inserts on the pectineal line of the femur. Sitting for long periods can shorten and tighten the pectineus, which can lead to functional problems such as anterior pelvic tilt.
The rectus femoris is one of the quadriceps and a powerful hip flexor muscle. It has two functions: to flex at the hip and to extend the knee. It is engaged intensely when both functions are in play, such as when kicking a soccer ball or swinging a straight leg forward. The rectus femoris is the only quadriceps muscle that traverses both the hip and the knee joint.
The sartorius is the longest muscle in the human body. It crosses the hip and knee joints and functions to flex the hip, adduct the thigh, and externally rotate the leg. It requires great effort during a soccer kick, particularly when kicking across the body.
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Hip extensors: gluteus maximus
The gluteus maximus is the main hip extensor. It is one of the strongest muscles in the human body and is responsible for powerful lower limb movements such as stepping onto a step, climbing, or running. It is not used extensively during normal walking.
The gluteus maximus is a large and superficial gluteal muscle. It is innervated by the inferior gluteal nerve (L5-S2) and receives blood supply from the inferior and superior gluteal arteries. The gluteus maximus works with the semitendinosus and semimembranosus to extend the hip. It is the chief antigravity muscle during sitting, counteracting and controlling the flexion of the hip. It also works with the iliopsoas, piriformis, and obturator muscles to externally rotate the hip.
Weakness or dysfunction of the gluteus maximus can lead to difficulties in performing functional tasks such as stepping up or down, squatting, jumping, or changing directions. Paralysis of the gluteus maximus can make activities like standing up from a sitting position, climbing stairs, or running very challenging.
To evaluate the strength of the gluteus maximus, a patient can be asked to lie prone and extend their leg off the table against resistance. This muscle can also be palpated during standing hip extension, a step-up, or while raising the medial borders of the foot.
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Hip adductors: pectineus, adductors longus, brevis, and magnus
The hip adductors are a group of five muscles located in the medial compartment of the thigh. These muscles are the pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis. The hip adductors shape the surface anatomy of the medial thigh. They extend from the anteroinferior external surface of the bony pelvis to the shaft of the femur and proximal tibia. The hip adductors are innervated by the obturator nerve (L2-L4) and supplied by blood mainly via the branches of the femoral and obturator arteries.
The main function of the hip adductors is to produce adduction of the thigh at the hip joint, in which the thigh is pulled toward or past the median plane. The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle that contributes to the flexion of the extended thigh, as well as the extension of the flexed thigh. It also provides some medial rotation. The adductor brevis is a triangular muscle and the shortest of the adductors. Its fibres originate from the lateral part of the body and inferior ramus of the pubis, and course downwards, laterally and backwards to insert onto the superior half of the linea aspera. The adductor magnus is the largest of the hip adductors and consists of two distinct parts: the adductor part and the ischiocondylar (hamstring) part. The adductor part is considered part of the medial thigh (adductor) compartment, while the hamstring part functionally belongs to the posterior compartment of the thigh.
The hip adductors assist in hip flexion and play a role in maintaining the standing posture. They also help stabilize the pelvis and lower extremity during the stance phase of gait and assist in postural control. Additionally, the pectineus acts as a hip flexor and secondary adductor, originating on the superior pubic ramus and inserting on the pectineal line of the femur.
The iliopsoas group of muscles, including the iliacus, psoas major, and psoas minor, also play a role in hip flexion. The psoas major and minor laterally flex the trunk, while the iliacus flexes the trunk and hip and externally rotates the thigh.
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Hip abductors: gluteus medius and gluteus minimus
The hip abductors, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, are large and superficial gluteal muscles that abduct the thigh, preventing the hips from swaying and stabilising the pelvic region. These muscles are responsible for keeping the hips level and shifting an individual's weight to adjust their body placement, increasing overall body stability.
The gluteus medius and minimus are part of the hip joint, which directly facilitates the movement of the hip joint, while the muscles of the hip girdle offer stability and support. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, connecting the lower extremities with the axial skeleton. It is the second-largest weight-bearing joint after the knee, and it allows for movement in three major axes, all of which are perpendicular to one another.
The hip abductors are located on the outer side of the hip and buttock and move the leg away from the body's midline. They are engaged in activities such as side-stepping and balancing on one leg. The abductors are part of a large group of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that form the foundation of hip function, providing strength and stability while enabling movement in several directions.
The gluteal muscles can be divided into two main groups: large and superficial muscles, and small and deep muscles. The gluteus medius and gluteus minimus are in the former group, which abduct and extend the thigh at the hip joint. The small and deep muscles externally rotate the thigh at the hip joint and stabilise the pelvis.
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Frequently asked questions
The hip flexor muscles are the iliopsoas, iliacus, psoas, pectineus, rectus femoris, and sartorius.
The hip flexor muscles are responsible for hip flexion, which is the movement of bringing the knee closer to the chest.
The psoas is the main hip flexor, assisted by the iliopsoas and iliacus.
The iliopsoas is the body's most important hip flexor. It contributes to postural stability while standing erect and elevating the torso from a supine position.
The psoas major flexes and laterally flexes the trunk. It also flexes and laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint.
