| Iliopsoas | |
|---|---|
| Anterior hip muscles. (Psoas minor not pictured.) | |
| Latin | musculus iliopsoas |
| Gray's | subject #127 467 |
| Origin | iliac fossa, spine |
| Insertion | lesser trochanter of femur |
| Artery | medial femoral circumflex artery, iliolumbar artery |
| Nerve | femoral nerve, L1, L2 |
| Actions | flexion of hip |
| Antagonist | Gluteus maximus, posterior compartment of thigh |
The term Iliopsoas refers to the combination of three muscles:
These muscles are distinct in the abdomen, but usually indistinguishable in the thigh. As such, they are usually given a common name and are referred to as the "dorsal hip muscles"[1] or "inner hip muscles".[2]
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The Psoas major originates along the lateral surfaces of the vertebral bodies of T12 and L1-L5 and their associated intervertebral discs. The Psoas minor, which presents in only some 40 percent of the population, originates at the transverse processes of L1-L5. The Iliacus originates in the Iliac fossa of the pelvis.[2]
Psoas major unites with iliacus at the level of the inguinal ligament and crosses the hip joint to insert on the lesser trochanter. The Psoas minor inserts at the iliopectineal arch,[2] the thickened band at the iliac fascia which separates the muscular lacuna from the vascular lacuna.[3] femoral nerve, L1, L2
Strongest of the hip flexors (rectus femoris, sartorius, and tensor fasciae latae), iliopsoas is important for standing, walking, and running.[2]
It is, however, a typical posture muscle dominated by slow-twitch red type 1 fibers, and is therefore susceptible to pathological shortening or contracture (especially in older people with a sedentary lifestyle) and requires regular stretching to maintain normal tone. Such shortening can lead to increased anterior pelvic tilt and lumbar lordosis (unilateral shortening), and limitation of hip extension (bilateral weakness).[2]
The iliopsoas muscle is covered by the iliopsoas fascia, which begins as a strong tube-shaped psoas fascia, which surround the psoas major muscle as it passes under the medial arcuate ligament. Together with the iliac fascia, it continues down to the inguinal ligament where it forms the iliopectineal arch which separates the muscular and vascular lacunae.[4]
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