Musculus gluteus profundus
The deepest of the three gluteal muscles, lying closest to the hip joint. Primary function is hip abduction and medial rotation of the femur. Important for lateral stability during locomotion.
Origin: Ischiatic spine and gluteal surface of the ilium (ventral portion)
Insertion: Greater trochanter of the femur (cranial surface)
Action: Abducts the hindlimb; medially rotates the femur; stabilizes the hip
Innervation: Cranial gluteal nerve (L5-S1)
Difficult to diagnose due to depth. Often implicated in vague hindquarter pain syndromes evaluated with diagnostic imaging.
Difficult to diagnose due to depth. Often implicated in vague hindquarter pain syndromes evaluated with diagnostic imaging. Signs include: Vague hindlimb lameness; reluctance to engage the hindquarters; pain on rectal palpation of the deep gluteal region; improved with targeted injection under ultrasound guidance.
See the Deep Gluteal (Gluteus Profundus) on our interactive 3D horse model. Open 3D Model