The largest and most superficial muscle of the buttock, responsible for hip extension and a powerful push-off when climbing or running.
Structure
The muscle is roughly quadrilateral and made up of coarse fascicles. It originates from the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and inserts onto the gluteal tuberosity of the femur and the iliotibial tract.
Function
The gluteus maximus is the strongest hip extensor in the body. It is not used much in level walking, but engages strongly when standing up, climbing stairs, or sprinting.
Clinical note
The thick muscle is a common site for deep intramuscular injections, always aimed at the upper-outer quadrant to avoid the sciatic nerve.
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