Hip, Black

Description

Posterior surface anatomy of the left hip and buttock is presented on an adult Black male figure, with the highlighted region spanning the posterolateral pelvis to the proximal thigh. The iliac crest curves superiorly, with the posterior superior iliac spine and adjacent sacrum lying medial to the gluteal mass. Laterally, the greater trochanter of the femur forms a palpable prominence deep to the gluteus medius and minimus, while the gluteus maximus sweeps inferiorly toward the iliotibial tract and gluteal tuberosity. Clear landmarks. Clinically, this posterolateral corridor is where many patients localize hip pain that is not truly intra-articular: gluteus medius tendinopathy and greater trochanteric pain syndrome often present with focal tenderness over the trochanter and pain with single-leg stance. The relationship of the gluteal musculature to the posterior pelvis also matters for safe intramuscular injection, which targets the superolateral quadrant to avoid the sciatic nerve as it courses deep to gluteus maximus, typically inferior and medial to the highlighted field. For surgical teaching, the same topography helps orient the posterior approach to total hip arthroplasty, where short external rotators and the sciatic nerve demand careful spatial awareness. Educators can place this asset in musculoskeletal anatomy lectures to anchor palpation of the iliac crest, PSIS, and greater trochanter, and to frame discussions of hip versus lumbar referral patterns. It also fits orthopaedic and sports medicine materials on lateral hip pain, trochanteric bursitis, and injection technique diagrams for clinical skills training. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.