What are the origins and insertions of the glutes muscles?
Learning 50 muscles as part of the Level 3 A&P exam is no simple task, and the glutes make up THREE of these.
Not only do you need to know them for your exam, but this knowledge will massively improve your planning and coaching when working with clients
The glutes are notoriously underworked, underused and not activated in client sessions, so this blog will not only tell you the origin and insertion but also the action and three tips to activating the glutes effectively.
What muscles make up the Glutes?
The glutes are the muscles of the bum, the bit you sit on, the derriere, the backside … whatever you wanna call it.
There are three muscles that together make up “the glutes”:
- Gluteus Maximus
- Gluteus Medius
- Gluteus Minimus
What are the origins and insertions of the glutes:
Let’s explore the origin and insertion of each of the glute muscles, starting with the biggest
Gluteus Maximus:
Origin: Iliac Crest, Sacrum, Coccyx
Insertion: Upper Femur and Iliotibial Tract
Muscle Action: Hip Extension, External Rotation of the Hip and Hip Abduction
Gluteus Medius:
Origin: Upper Lateral Surface of Ilium
Insertion: Lateral surface of Greater Trochanter
Muscle Action: Anterior Fibres: Hip Abduction and Internal Rotation. Posterior Fibres: Hip Extension and External Rotation
Gluteus Minimus:
Origin: Lateral Surface of Ilium
Insertion: Anterior surface of Greater Trochanter
Muscle Action: Hip Abduction, and Hip Internal Rotation
The importance of knowing about the Gluteus Maximus Muscle?
Let’s dive a little deeper into the biggest and most superficial muscles of the glutes.. .the gluteus maximus
The Gluteus Maximus,
is key for all fitness professionals to know about this muscle, it is strong and powerful when activated effectively.
It plays a key role in pelvic alignment and core activation and stability, but its main role is to extend the hips.
Hip Extension is when you are standing straight or lying flat, hip extension also occurs when you kick your leg back behind you from the hip.
If you or your clients sit down a lot (and lets face it, most of us do) then this muscle gets lengthened and weaker/ inactive.
This means that it fails to activate when we want it to, which doesn’t only give us a flatter shaped bottom, but postural issues too.
Weak glutes usually relate to overactive hip flexors, which result in an anterior tilt of the pelvis.
You might know this as Hyperlordosis.
If your client has a pelvic anterior tilt, activating the gluteus maximus will help them move more efficiently, stand in better alignment, make their stomach “appear flatter”, reduce back pain and get more power through their stride.
It’s a no brainer –> everyone should be working their glutes and really being aware of muscle activation.
How to Activate the Glutes Using the Kettlebell Swing
If your client has weak, or inactive glutes then here an exercise to get the most out of the gluteus maximus and improve activation
Use the hip hinge kettlebell swing
The hip hinge is a specific technique used for the Kettlebell Swing, and when done correctly the Prime Mover is the GLUTEUS MAXIMUS. Which is a great way to strengthen and build the glutes, especially if they are weak.
This video shows the glutes in action during a Kettlebell Swing, using the hip hinge technique. You can see the origin and insertion being pulled apart during hip flexion (eccentric phase) and pulled together (concentric phase) during hip extension.
It is this large range of motion throughout hip extension that causes the glutes to be maximally activated.
If your client was doing a squat swing technique, instead of the hip hinge the prime mover moves to the Quadriceps. There would be less range of motion through hip flexion/extension. This means that your client won’t be activating the glutes maximally.
Find out more about conquering the Kettlebell Swing HERE
If you want more mock questions like this, then you can download more Free Mock Questions: DOWNLOAD NOW
How to learn orgins and insertions?
Learn, Revise & Remember All 50 Muscles In The Level 3 Anatomy & Physiology Exam.
(and the BEST part…You can do all this in as little as 5-minutes a day)
Each flashcard gives you a clear image and six clear muscle facts:
- Name and Location
- Origin and Insertions
- Muscle Actions
- Joints Crossed
- Primary Planes Of Movement
- Exercise Examples
Dedicated to More
Hayley “Origins and Insertions of the Glutes” Bergman
Parallel Coaching
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