- Gluteus maximus, the largest and most superficial gluteal muscle, covers all other gluteal muscles except the anterosuperior part of gluteus medius (the common site for intramuscular injection).
- The structures it overlies, its deep relations, are the muscles, vessels, nerves, joints, ligaments and bursae of the gluteal region.
Structures Under Cover of Gluteus Maximus
Structures deep to (under cover of) gluteus maximus
Category
Muscles
- Structures
- All muscles of the gluteal region except tensor fasciae latae; reflected head of rectus femoris; origin of the hamstrings; insertion of the upper fibres of adductor magnus
Vessels
- Structures
- Superior and inferior gluteal vessels; internal pudendal vessels; trochanteric arterial anastomosis; cruciate arterial anastomosis
Nerves
- Structures
- Superior and inferior gluteal nerves; sciatic nerve; posterior cutaneous nerve of thigh; nerve to quadratus femoris; pudendal nerve; nerve to obturator internus; perforating cutaneous nerve
Joints and ligaments
- Structures
- Hip joint; sacroiliac joint; sacrotuberous ligament; sacrospinous ligament; ischiofemoral ligament
Bursae
- Structures
- Bursa between gluteus maximus and ilium; trochanteric bursa; ischial bursa (occasional); gluteofemoral bursa