Buttocks

Buttocks
Anatomy and Tips

The buttocks or as it is also known, the ‘glutes’. This is a muscle that can’t be slacking…no pun intended. One most surely needs a strong back side to concur some daily routines such as lifting, bending, walking or even jogging. Did you know that the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus all make up the buttocks? Consistently working these three muscles will show results that most can appreciate. The buttocks muscles laterally rotate and extend the hip and the trunk. Squats are most commonly performed when it comes to strengthening and tightening the buttocks.

Gluteus Maximus

Anatomy and Benefits
Gluteus to the Maximus…cause everyone deserves great results!!! The Gluteus Maximus is often referred to as the ‘glutes’. The glutes are the larger of the three major muscles of the buttock. It is responsible for many movements from the trunk to the thigh. When one does lunges or squats, there are several muscles at work, but the gluteus takes on a great deal of that power to bring the body back to a standing position. The gluteus maximum, gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus are covered in a subcutaneous fat. This fat is necessary and varies from person to person.

Subcutaneous means “under the skin.” There are blood vessels within subcutaneous fat, and this provides oxygen to the skin. Subcutaneous fat assists in protecting the skin against trauma. How awesome is that? But one should be careful to keep this fat at a minimum to avoid health concerns. Squats, lunges and deadlifts are great exercises for strengthening the glutes.

Gluteus Medius

Anatomy and Benefits
The gluteus medius is located at the outer portion of the pelvis. The gluteus maximus covers a portion of the gluteus medius. The gluteus medius is responsible for lateral rotation, extension, and abduction of the hip.

Gluteus Minimus

Anatomy and Benefits
The gluteus minimus is located in front of the gluteus medius and the gluteus maximus. It is a tri-angular muscle. It’s origin is the outer surface of the ilium and to the upper leg (the greater tro-chanter of the femur). The gluteus minimus and the gluteus medius stabilizes the hip and pelvis as the leg is raised. When you move your thigh away from the midline of the body this is abduction. When you move your thigh towards the midline of the body this is adduction. Both movements require the gluteus minimus to be utilized.

Hips

Anatomy and Tips
The hip joint is between the femur and the pelvis. It is the hip that supports body weight when performing activities such as running, walking or even standing. You also need strong hips for balance.

The hip is responsible for flexion, extension, adduction and abduction as well as medial and lateral rotation of the thigh. The hips of women are different from that of men. The hips of women get wider during puberty. This is to enable child birth.