Gluteus maximus — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Gluteus maximus is located in the buttock. Hip extension and lateral rotation. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.

Gluteus maximus highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Gluteus maximus highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Gluteus maximus at a glance
LocationButtock
Main functionHip extension and lateral rotation.
Layersuperficial muscles
Key fact 1The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.
Key fact 2The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip.
Key fact 3The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

Where is the Gluteus maximus located?

The Gluteus maximus is located in the buttock.

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.

What does the Gluteus maximus do?

Hip extension and lateral rotation.

The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip.

What to know for exams

  • The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.
  • The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip.
  • The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

Link the gluteus maximus to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Gluteus maximus

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body. The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip. The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Gluteus maximus anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Gluteus maximus located?

    Reveal answer

    Buttock

  2. What is the main function of the Gluteus maximus?

    Reveal answer

    Hip extension and lateral rotation.

  3. Give one key fact about the Gluteus maximus.

    Reveal answer

    The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.

  4. Give another key fact about the Gluteus maximus.

    Reveal answer

    The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Gluteus maximus?

    Reveal answer

    The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

Common questions

Where is the Gluteus maximus located?

The Gluteus maximus is located in the buttock. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body.

What does the Gluteus maximus do?

Hip extension and lateral rotation. The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip.

What is a key fact about the Gluteus maximus?

The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

What layer does the Gluteus maximus belong to?

It belongs to the superficial muscles layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle in the human body. The gluteus maximus extends and laterally rotates the hip. The gluteus maximus is important for rising from a sitting position.

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Gluteus maximus search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.