- Click here for access to the full Anatomy Glossary.
- Right click on the image for a downloadable file of this muscle.
- Use of this artwork requires proper credit to be given (Permission: Dr. Joe Muscolino. www.learnmuscles.com – art work Giovanni Rimasti)
The Piriformis is a member of the Deep Lateral Rotator Group (also known as the Deep 6), composed of the following six muscles (from superior to inferior):
- Piriformis
- Superior gemellus
- Obturator internus
- Inferior gemellus
- Obturator externus
- Quadratus femoris
ATTACHMENTS:
- The piriformis attaches from the sacrum to the greater trochanter of the femur.
- The proximal/medial attachment is onto the anterior surface of the sacrum.
ACTIONS:
- Laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint.
- Medially rotates the thigh at the hip joint (if the thigh is first flexed approximately 60 degrees or more).
- Abducts the thigh at the hip joint.
- Horizontally abducts the thigh at the hip joint.
- Contralaterally rotates the pelvis at the hip joint.
NOTE: A tight piriformis can compress the sciatic nerve causing symptoms of sciatica. When this occurs, it is called piriformis syndrome.
- Piriformis
- Click here for access to the full Anatomy Glossary.
- Right click on the image for a downloadable file of this muscle.
- Use of this artwork requires proper credit to be given (Permission: Dr. Joe Muscolino. www.learnmuscles.com - art work Giovanni Rimasti)
The piriformis is one of the six muscles of the deep lateral rotator group. They are (from superior to inferior):
- Piriformis
- Superior gemellus
- Obturator internus
- Inferior gemellus
- Obturator externus (deep to quadratus femoris)
- Quadratus femoris
- Anterior surface of the sacrum to the superior aspect of the greater trochanter of the femur.
- Laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint (from anatomic position)
- Abducts the thigh at the hip joint (from anatomic position) (note: this action is relatively weak)
- Medially rotates the thigh at the hip joint (if the thigh is first flexed approximately 60 degrees or more)
- Horizontally abducts the thigh at the hip joint (if the thigh is flexed to 90 degrees)
- Contralaterally rotates the pelvis at the hip joint (reverse closed-chain joint action - from anatomic position)
- The sciatic nerve can be compressed by a tight piriformis, causing symptoms of sciatica. When this occurs, it is called piriformis syndrome.
- In anatomic position, the piriformis laterally rotates the thigh at the hip joint. If the thigh is first flexed at least 60 degrees or more, the line of pull of the piriformis moves to the other side of the axis of motion and the piriformis becomes a medial rotator of the thigh at the hip joint.
