MRI diagnosis of tears of the hip abductor tendons (gluteus medius and
gluteus minimus).
(10) More commonly pain at the greater trochanter is due to some combination of gluteus medius,
gluteus minimus, and iliotibial band pathology (Fig.
The gluteus medius and
gluteus minimus are two smaller muscles that lie on the side of your hip.
The main functions of the gluteus medius,
gluteus minimus, and tensor fascia lata muscles are the abduction and the internal rotation of the leg (Donofrio, Bird, Assimos, & Mathes, 1998; Willick, Margherita, & Carter, 1998).
The dissection of the hip capsule between the piriformis tendon and the
gluteus minimus muscle is facilitated by slight flexion, external rotation, and abduction in the hip.
Primary active abduction of the hip is predominately performed by a muscle called the gluteus maximus and--to a lesser degree--the
gluteus minimus.
The superior division ascends beside the superior border of the
Gluteus minimus in the direction of the anterior superior spine of the ilium which anastomose with the lateral femoral circumflex and deep iliac circumflex arteries.