Gluteus Maximus as, Posterior View

Description

Posteriorly, the paired gluteus maximus muscles form the dominant superficial contour of the buttocks, spanning laterally from the posterior ilium toward the proximal femur and iliotibial tract while meeting medially across the sacrum and coccyx. Superior fibers arise near the posterior gluteal line and adjacent iliac crest, and inferior fibers descend toward the gluteal tuberosity, creating the familiar inferolateral sweep toward the thigh. Centered between the muscle bellies, the sacrum sits superior to the coccyx, with the posterior superior iliac spines implied at the upper margins of the gluteal region. Gluteus maximus is the primary hip extensor in powerful movements, and a posterior perspective makes its lines of pull easy to teach: superior fibers tension the iliotibial band for lateral hip and knee stability, while deeper portions insert on the femur to drive extension and external rotation. This anatomy underpins gait mechanics and common exam findings, such as weakness after inferior gluteal nerve injury (L5 to S2) presenting as difficulty rising from a chair or climbing stairs. The same relationship explains why deep intramuscular injection is directed to the superolateral buttock, away from the sciatic nerve that travels deep to gluteus maximus in the infragluteal region. Use this plate in gross anatomy and kinesiology teaching to anchor origins and insertions on the ilium, sacrum, coccyx, femur, and iliotibial tract, and to pair muscle form with function in hip extension. It also suits orthopedic and sports medicine materials discussing posterior hip approaches, gluteal strain, and rehabilitation of extensor weakness. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.