THE HIP JOINT

Muscles of the Hip

Gluteus Maximus
 O: lower posterior iliac crest and
posterior surface of the sacrum
 I: gluteal tuberosity (upper,
posterior aspect of the femur) &
I.T. band
 Actions:
 Extension of the hip
 External rotation of the hip
 Lower fibers (below the center
of motion) assist in adduction
Extension
Gluteus Maximus
 Produces hip extension beyond 15 degrees; not used
extensively during walking
 Strongly used during running, hopping, skipping, and
jumping
 Best isolated with the knee flexed to reduce hip
extension from the hamstrings

40 degrees
Gluteus Medius
 O: outer surface of the
ilium just below the
crest
 I: greater trochanter
 Actions:
 Abduction of the hip
 Anterior fibers:
Internal rotation,
 Posterior fibers:
External rotation.
Gluteus Minimus
 O: outer surface of the
ilium beneath the gluteus
medius
 I: greater trochanter of the
femur
 Actions
 Abduction of the hip
 Internal rotation
Gluteus Medius and Minimus
 During walking these muscles abduct (or hold up) the free leg,
preventing it from sagging.
 Both are important in transferring weight from one leg to the
other (e.g. running, hopping, skipping, etc.)
 Their effectiveness decreases with age.
Biceps Femoris
 Lateral side
 Origin:
 1.) Long head - ischial tuberosity;
 2.) Short head - lower half of the linea aspera
 Insertion: Head of the fibula
 Action:
 Extension of hip
 External rotation of the hip (and knee)
 (Flexion of knee)
Biceps Femoris
 One of the hamstring muscles (semitendinosus and
semimembranosus)
 A two-joint muscle which is a powerful hip extensor
unless the knees are flexed
 Isolated during leg curls with some external rotation
of the hip and knee. This “lines up” the origin and
insertion.
Semitendinosus
 Medial side; superficial
 Origin: Ischial tuberosity
 Insertion: Medial surface of
proximal end of the tibia
 Action:
 Extension of the hip
 Internal rotation of the hip (and
knee)
 Flexion of the knee
Semimembranosus
 Medial side, deeper than
semitendonosus
 Origin: Ischial tuberosity
 Insertion: Medial surface of the tibia
 Action:
 Extension of the hip
 Internal rotation of the hip (and knee)
 Flexion of the knee
Semitendinosus &
Semimembranosus
 Two-joint muscles
 Used in ordinary walking for hip extension
 Best exercised with knee flexion exercises (leg curls) with
the hip and knee internally rotated
 Help to medially stabilize knee
Tensor Fasciae Latae

 O: iliac crest
 I: iliotibial (I.T.) band
 Actions:
 Flexion of the hip
 Internal rotation
 Abduction of the hip
Tensor Fasciae Latae
 Prevents external rotation at the hip is flexed

Stretching

Strengthening
Tensor Fascia
Latae (Anterior View)
Iliopsoas
 Origins:
 iliac fossa
 vertebral bodies of the last
thorasic and lumbar
vertebrae
 I: lesser trochanter of the
femur
 Actions:
 Flexion of the hip
 External rotation
Iliopsoas
 Strong hip flexor muscle
 Raises legs off the floor
from the supine position.
 Pulls anteriorly on the lower
lumbar vertebrae
 May aggravate lower back
problems
 Abdominal muscles can
prevent lumbar strain
 Used during complete sit-
ups and straight leg sit-ups.
 Stretching this muscle
requires hyper-extension of
the hip.
Pectineous

 O: pubic crest or ramus

 I: below the linea aspera
 Actions
 Flexion
 Adduction
 Internal rotation
Tensor Fasciae Latae
Pectineus
Adductor Brevis
 Origin: Inferior ramus of pubis
 Insertion: Pectineal line (linea
aspera)
 Actions:
 Adduction
 External rotation
Adductor Longus
 Below the adductor brevis
 O: front of the pubis just below
its crest
 I: middle third of the linea
aspera
 Actions:
 Adduction
 Flexion
 Adductor Magnus

 Located posterior to the longus

 O: edge of the pubic crest and
ischial tuberosity
 I: linea aspera
 Actions:
 Adduction
 External rotation
Gracilis
 O: pubic crest
 I: medial condyle of tibia
 Actions:
 Adduction at the hip
 Internal rotation
 [Flexion at the knee]
Adductor Muscles
 Adductor Brevis
 Adductor Longus
 Adductor Magnus
 Gracilis
 Not heavily used in ordinary movements
 Horse back riding, the breaststroke kick in swimming
Sartorius

 Origin: Anterior-superior spine of

the ilium
 Insertion: Anterior medial condyle
of the tibia (behind the medial
condyle)
 Action:
 Flexion of hip
 External rotation of the hip
 [Flexion of the knee]
Sartorius
 Longest muscle in the body
 It is a two-joint muscle; hip flexion and knee
flexion
 It is weak when both actions take place at the
same time.
Rectus Femoris
 Two joint muscle; most
superficial
 Origin: anterior-inferior iliac
spine of the ilium
 Insertion: top of the patella and
patellar ligament to the tibial
tuberosity
 Actions:
 Flexion of the hip [Extension of
the knee]
Rectus Femoris
 A two-joint muscle: hip flexion and knee
extension
 Powerful knee extension when the hip is
extended but weaker when the hip is flexed.
 The gluteus maximus and the hamstring
muscles will extend the hip making the rectus
femoris stronger during knee extension
Hip Rotator Muscles
 ANTERIOR
 Obturator Externus

Anterior
Hip Rotator
Muscles
 POSTERIOR
 Piriformis
 Gemellus superior
 Obturator internus
Gemellus inferior
 Quadratus femoris

Posterior
Hip Rotator Muscles

Posterior Posterior
Hip Rotator Muscles

Posterior Anterior
Six Hip Rotator Muscles
 Common action is External Rotation
 Powerful external rotation of the hip is
required to throw a baseball, swing a bat or
golf club.
 The sciatic nerve passes just inferior to the
piriformis therefore a tight piriformis muscle
my contribute to compression on the sciatic
nerve.
Review
Name the action at her hip

Abduction
Name the action at
his right hip

Flexion
Name the actions at her hip

Extension, Abduction &

External Rotation
Name the two action at his right hip

Extension and External

Rotation
Name the action at his hip

Flexion
Name the actions at his hip

Flexion and External Rotation

and Abduction
Name the actions at his hip

Flexion and Adduction

 3.
The Femur 1.
2.

1= Head 4.
2= Neck
3= Greater trochanter 5.

4= Lesser trochanter
5= Linea Aspera
6= Medial condyle 6.
7= Lateral condyle
7.
 Anterior

1 = iliac crest 1.

2 = anterior spine
3 = greater trochanter 2.
4 = lesser trochanter
5 = ischial tuberosity 3.

6 = pubis crest

4.
5. 6.
Name the sections of the pelvis

1. Ilium

2. Pubis

3. Ischium
 Posterior

1.
1= iliac crest
2= greater trochanter
3= ischial tuberosity
4= lesser trochanter
5= linea aspera
2.
3.
4.

5.
 Name the muscle
 Actions:
extension of the thigh at the hip
lateral rotation of the thigh
lower fibers (below the center of
motion) assist adduction
upper fibers (above the center of
motion) assist in abduction

Gluteus Maximus
 Name the muscle
 Actions
 adduction of the thigh at
the hip
 aids in flexion

Adductor Brevis
Name the muscle

 Actions
 abduction of the thigh
 medial rotation
 flexion

Gluteus Minimus
 Name the muscle
 Actions:
 adduction of the thigh
 assists in flexion of the thigh at
the hip

Adductor Longus
Name the muscle

 Actions:
 abduction of the thigh
 anterior fibers: flexion
and medial rotation,
 posterior fibers:
extension and lateral
rotation.

Gluetus Medius
Name the muscle

 Actions:
 adduction at the hip
 medial rotation
 [flexion at the knee]

Gracilis
 Iliopsoas
Name the muscle
 Actions:
 flexion of the thigh at the
hip
 slight adduction
 flexion of the spine
Name the muscle

 Actions
 flexion of the hip
 adduction

Pectineus
 Name the muscle

 Actions:
 flexion of the thigh at the
hip
 medial rotation
 abduction of the thigh,
medial rotation (weak)

Tensor Fasciae Latae

 Name the muscle

 Actions:
 adduction of the thigh at the hip
 flexion (anterior fibers)
 extension (posterior fibers)

Adductor Magnus
 What is the most anterior hip rotator muscle?
 Obturator Externus
What is the common action of
these muscles?
 Piriformis
 Gemellus superior
 Obturator internus
 Gemellus inferior
 Quadratus femoris

External Rotation
Name the muscle
 Deep muscle
 Action:
 Extension of the hip
 Flexion of the knee
 Internal rotation of the hip (and knee)

Semimembranosus
Name the muscle
 Superficial muscle
 Action:
 Extension of the hip
 Flexion of the knee
 Internal rotation of the hip (and
knee)

Semitendonosis
Name the muscle

 Action: Sartorius
 Flexion of hip
 External rotation of the hip
 [Flexion of the knee]
Name the muscle
 Actions:
 Flexion of the hip
 [Extension of the knee]

Rectus Femoris
Name the muscle
 Action:
 Extension of hip
 Flexion of knee
 Lateral rotation of the hip (and knee)

Biceps Femoris
Name the muscle
Gluteus Medius
Name the muscles

Pectineus

Adductor Brevis

Adductor Longus

Adductor Magnus

Gracilis
Name the landmarks

Iliac crest

Anterior spine
 Name the landmarks
1. Acetabulum
2. Sciatic
notch
3. Ischial
tuberosity

1
2

3
Name the muscles
1. Tensor
fasciae
latae
2. Sartorius
1
2
 2. Name the landmark

Iliac Crest

1. Name the muscle

Gluteus Maximus

3. Name the structure

Iliotibial band