Anetai Hidaka, Kato Kota, Kudoh Hiroyuki, Sakai Tatsuo, Ichimura Koichiro
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 1;15(1):21251. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-05361-x.
The gluteus maximus (GM) is a powerful hip joint extensor acting strongly on the femur. However, most anatomical literature describes that the larger superior portion of the GM is inserted into the iliotibial tract rather than the femur, resulting in an apparent discrepancy between its structure and function. To address this, we re-evaluated the GM structure in 25 formalin-fixed Japanese cadavers. We found that the superior three-fourths of the GM formed a strong plate-like distal tendon, which was mostly inserted into the gluteal tuberosity of the femur, with partial adhesions to the iliotibial tract. The remaining inferior portion terminates at a complex involving the lateral femoral intermuscular septum, plate-like distal tendon of the superior portion, and proximal tendon of the vastus lateralis. These findings resolve the functional anatomy discrepancy of the GM: the larger superior portion is primarily inserted into the femur, contributing hip joint movement, while the smaller inferior portion supports this function. Kinesiological data on the GM should be reinterpreted based on this precise anatomy. This will significantly improve our understanding of human GM function.
臀大肌（GM）是一个强大的髋关节伸肌，对股骨有强烈作用。然而，大多数解剖学文献描述GM较大的上部分插入到髂胫束而不是股骨，导致其结构和功能之间存在明显差异。为了解决这个问题，我们重新评估了25具福尔马林固定的日本尸体的GM结构。我们发现GM的上四分之三形成了一个强大的板状远端肌腱，其大部分插入到股骨的臀肌粗隆，与髂胫束有部分粘连。其余的下部分终止于一个复合体，该复合体涉及股外侧肌间隔、上部分的板状远端肌腱和股外侧肌的近端肌腱。这些发现解决了GM的功能解剖学差异：较大的上部分主要插入到股骨，有助于髋关节运动，而较小的下部分支持这一功能。关于GM的运动学数据应基于这种精确的解剖结构重新解释。这将显著提高我们对人类GM功能的理解。
