Psoas Minor Muscles, Anterior View

Description

Arising from the bodies and transverse processes of T12 to L1, the paired psoas minor muscles run inferiorly on the anterior surface of psoas major, their thin bellies tapering into a long tendon that descends toward the pelvic brim. Medially, the muscles track alongside the lumbar vertebral column, while laterally they parallel the iliacus as it fills the iliac fossa, with the inguinal region lying inferior and anterior to their course. Bony landmarks expected in this anterior pelvis and proximal thigh composition include the lumbar vertebrae, sacrum, iliac crest, acetabulum, and proximal femora, with the iliopsoas complex occupying the interval between spine and lesser trochanter. A small muscle. Often absent. For teaching anatomy, psoas minor is a useful reminder that not every named structure is consistently present, and that the psoas fascia and iliopubic (iliopectineal) eminence remain the more dependable landmarks in the retroperitoneum. Surgeons approaching the lumbosacral junction or anterior hip capsule, and clinicians interpreting CT or MRI of the posterior abdominal wall, benefit from recognizing the psoas major-iliacus contour and then identifying when a psoas minor tendon creates a separate anterior fascial plane. That distinction helps avoid mislabeling a tendon or fascial thickening as a mass, hematoma, or enlarged lymph node in the pelvis. Educators can place this plate in a gross anatomy dissection manual, emphasizing lumbar plexus relationships within psoas major and contrasting them with the more superficial psoas minor, then carry the same image into orthopedic and spine modules when discussing anterior approaches and iliopsoas-related pain generators. It also suits radiology teaching files and surgical atlases that require clean anterior orientation of the pelvis, lumbar spine, and proximal femur with clear tendon depiction. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.