Gluteus Minimus Muscle

Gluteus Minimus Muscle is the smallest muscle of the three gluteal muscles (maximus, medius and Minimus). It’s located deep to the gluteus medius muscle.

Both the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, are fan shaped, and their fibers converge in the same manner toward essentially the same target. They share the same actions and nerve supply and are supplied by the same blood vessel, the superior gluteal artery. The gluteus minimus and most of the gluteus medius lie deep to the gluteus maximus on the external surface of the ilium. The gluteus medius and minimus abduct or stabilize the thigh and rotate it medially.

Gluteus Minimus Muscle Anatomy

The gluteus minimus originates from the external surface of the ilium, between the anterior and inferior gluteal lines and from the edge of greater sciatic notch. It inserts on the anterolateral aspect of the greater trochanter of the femur.

See Also: Hip Muscles Anatomy

This muscle gets its innervation from the superior gluteal nerve (L4, L5, S1), and gets its blood supply from the deep branch of the superior gluteal artery.

The main action of the gluteus minimus muscle is hip abduction, it also stabilizes the pelvic during single limb support in the gait. Its anterior segment medially rotates the thig.

Testing the gluteus minimus is performed while the person is side lying with the test limb uppermost and the lowermost limb flexed at the hip and knee for stability. The person abducts the thigh without flexion or rotation against straight downward resistance.

The Trendelenburg sign is used to assess the strength of the hip abductors (gluteus medius and gluteus minimus).

References & More

1. Cael, C. (2010). Functional anatomy: Musculoskeletal anatomy, kinesiology, and palpation for manual therapists. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
2. Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
3. Physiopedia – Gluteus Minimus
4. Clinically Oriented Anatomy – 8th Edition