Psoas major muscle
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| Psoas major muscle | |
|---|---|
| The psoas major and nearby muscles | |
 | |
| Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the lower part of the abdomen. (Psoas major labeled at bottom left.) | |
| Latin | m. psoas major |
| Gray's | subject #127 467 |
| Origin | lower spine |
| Insertion | in the lesser trochanter of the femur |
| Artery: | Iliolumbar artery |
| Nerve: | Lumbar plexus via anterior branches of L2-L4 nerves |
| Action: | flexes and rotates laterally thigh |
| Antagonist: | Gluteus maximus |
| MeSH | Psoas+Muscles |
| Dorlands /Elsevier | m_22/12550274 |
The Psoas major is a long fusiform muscle placed on the side of the lumbar region of the vertebral column and brim of the lesser pelvis.
Contents |
Location
Origin
It arises:
- (1) from the anterior surfaces of the bases and lower borders of the transverse processes of all the lumbar vertebrae
- (2) from the sides of the bodies and the corresponding intervertebral fibrocartilages of the last thoracic and all the lumbar vertebrae by five slips, each of which is attached to the adjacent upper and lower margins of two vertebrae, and to the intervertebral fibrocartilage;
- (3) from a series of tendinous arches which extend across the constricted parts of the bodies of the lumbar vertebrae between the previous slips; the lumbar arteries and veins, and filaments from the sympathetic trunk pass beneath these tendinous arches.
Insertion
The muscle proceeds downward across the brim of the lesser pelvis, and diminishing gradually in size, passes beneath the inguinal ligament and in front of the capsule of the hip-joint and ends in a tendon; the tendon receives nearly the whole of the fibers of the Iliacus and is inserted into the lesser trochanter of the femur.
A large bursa which may communicate with the cavity of the hip-joint, separates the tendon from the pubis and the capsule of the joint.
Function
It forms part of a group of muscles called the hip flexors, whose action is primarily to lift the upper leg towards the body when the body is fixed or to pull the body towards the leg when the leg is fixed.
For example, when doing a sit up that brings the torso (including the lower back) away from the ground and towards the front of the leg, the hip flexors (including the iliopsoas) will flex the spine upon the pelvis.
Significance in Western Cuisine
Based on the anatomy and physiology of a cow, this muscle is the tenderloin, and tends not to be called upon to do a lot of work, thus it remains underdeveloped, resulting in a cut of meat that is known as the most tender. It forms the basis for several succulent dishes, including chateaubriand, filet mignon and Beef Wellington.
Other meat cuts in this area of the cow's body include the sirloin and the top sirloin.
Arts, Spirituality
Often of high significance in practice such as yoga, pilates, martial arts etc.
Being the only actual muscular connection between body and legs, makes efficient and controlled usage of this muscle very important in terms of finding ones strength, balance, and grounding.
Most forms of lunge will engage and stretch the psoas. Half- and full-lotus positions both stretch and elongate the psoas muscle and hip flexors in general.
Essential for proper lumbar, sacral and spinal support, alignment and control.
See also
Additional images
 Right femur. Anterior surface. |
 Diagram of a transverse section of the posterior abdominal wall, to show the disposition of the lumbodorsal fascia. |
 The diaphragm. Under surface. |
 Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions. |
 The arteries of the pelvis. |
 The relations of the femoral and abdominal inguinal rings, seen from within the abdomen. Right side. |
 The thoracic and right lymphatic ducts. |
 The lumbar plexus and its branches. |
 Nerves of the right lower extremity. Front view. |
 Sacral plexus of the right side. |
 Transverse section, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney. |
External links
- -1261436848 at GPnotebook
- LUC psmj
- SUNY Labs 40:16-0101 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Muscles of the Posterior Abdominal Wall"
- SUNY Anatomy Image 8916
- Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-2
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.
de:Musculus psoas majornl:Musculus psoas majorAcknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
