Gluteus Medius, Posterior View

Description

Positioned on the lateral surface of the ilium, the gluteus medius appears as a broad, fan-shaped muscle spanning inferiorly from the iliac crest and external iliac fossa to its insertion on the lateral aspect of the greater trochanter of the femur. From a posterior perspective, its posterior fibers run obliquely inferolaterally and sit deep to the gluteus maximus, while the anterior portion approaches the anterolateral hip near the tensor fasciae latae and iliotibial tract. Superiorly, the iliac crest frames its origin; inferiorly, the upper border of the greater trochanter marks the distal attachment. Fiber direction is clear. Posterior exposure of gluteus medius matters because this is the muscle most surgeons and clinicians think about when hip stability fails in stance. Denervation from superior gluteal nerve injury, or iatrogenic damage during an anterolateral approach to total hip arthroplasty, weakens abduction and produces a Trendelenburg gait, with pelvic drop on the contralateral side and compensatory trunk lean. This view also helps differentiate true abductor pathology from gluteus maximus strain and clarifies why the superolateral quadrant of the buttock is chosen for intramuscular injection to avoid the sciatic nerve. Use this plate to teach lateral hip anatomy in gross anatomy lab, kinesiology, and orthopaedic modules on hip arthroplasty approaches and abductor repair, and to support patient-facing explanations of Trendelenburg sign and abductor tendinopathy at the greater trochanter. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.