The anatomy of the hip abductor muscles

The anatomy of the hip abductors has not been comprehensively examined, yet is important to understanding function and pathology in the gluteal region. For example, pathology of the hip abductor muscle‐tendon complexes can cause greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and may be associated with gluteal...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 241 - 253
Main Authors:	Flack, N.A.M.S., Nicholson, H.D., Woodley, S.J.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-03-2014 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:	Aged Aged, 80 and over anatomy architecture Cadaver Fascia - anatomy & histology Female gluteal Hip - anatomy & histology hip abductor Humans innervation Male Middle Aged muscle Muscle, Skeletal - anatomy & histology Tendons - anatomy & histology gluteal innervation anatomy hip abductor muscle architecture
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The anatomy of the hip abductors has not been comprehensively examined, yet is important to understanding function and pathology in the gluteal region. For example, pathology of the hip abductor muscle‐tendon complexes can cause greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and may be associated with gluteal atrophy and fatty infiltration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the detailed morphology of gluteus medius (GMed), gluteus minimus (GMin), and tensor fascia lata (TFL), and determine whether the muscles comprised anatomical compartments. The gluteal region from 12 cadavers was dissected and data collected on attachment sites, volume, fascicular and tendinous anatomy, and innervation. Three sites of GMed origin were identified (gluteal fossa, gluteal aponeurosis, and posteroinferior edge of the iliac crest) and the distal tendon had lateral and posterior parts. GMed was the largest in volume (27.6 ± 11.6 cm3; GMin 14.1 ± 11.1 cm3; TFL 1.8 ± 0.8 cm3). Fascicles of GMin originated from the gluteal fossa, inserting onto the deep surface of its distal tendon and the hip joint capsule. TFL was encapsulated in the fascia lata, having no bony attachment. Primary innervation patterns varied for GMed, with three or four branches supplying different regions of muscle. Distinct secondary nerve branches entered four regions of GMin; no differential innervation was observed for TFL. On the basis of architectural parameters and innervation, GMed, and GMin each comprise of four compartments but TFL is a homogenous muscle. It is anticipated that these data will be useful for future clinical and functional studies of the hip abductors. Clin. Anat. 27:241–253, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Bibliography:	istex:CF1AD9444DA078F8B0996489079A8FE6ECFF5FB9 ark:/67375/WNG-6K5L564R-8 ArticleID:CA22248 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0897-3806 1098-2353
DOI:	10.1002/ca.22248