glutaeus

Glutaeus is an historical or alternative Latin spelling that has appeared in some anatomical texts to refer to the gluteal region or, more specifically, to the gluteal muscles of the buttock. In modern anatomy, the standard term is gluteus (singular) with its three muscles named gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The form glutaeus is now rare and often considered a misspelling or archaic usage.

Anatomical context shows that the gluteal muscles stabilize the pelvis and move the hip. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most superficial of the group; the medius and minimus lie deeper. Together they contribute to the motion and stability of the hip, with varying roles in extension, abduction, and rotation, depending on fiber direction and limb position.

Detailed anatomy: gluteus maximus originates from the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and inserts into the gluteal tuberosity of the femur and the iliotibial tract. It is innervated by the inferior gluteal nerve (L5-S2) and acts primarily to extend and externally rotate the hip, especially from a flexed position or during rising from sitting. Gluteus medius originates on the external surface of the ilium between the anterior and posterior gluteal lines and inserts on the greater trochanter; its fibers abduct the thigh and, depending on their orientation, medially or laterally rotate the hip. Gluteus minimus lies beneath the medius, with the same origin and insertion pattern, and shares the superior gluteal nerve, assisting in abduction and medial rotation while aiding pelvic stabilization during gait.

Clinical relevance includes nerve injury risk in gluteal injections, weakness leading to a Trendelenburg gait, and considerations in hip surgeries. Historical usage persists in some texts, but contemporary references favor gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus.