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Psoas major
Other Terms:
Iliopsoas,
Groin muscles,
Psoas major muscle,
Musculus psoas major,
Muscle grand psoas
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus iliopsoas – Musculus psoas major
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Hip joint muscle – hip flexor group or Abdominal wall – subvertebral muscle
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the greater muscle of the loin region. The word psoas comes from the Greek psoa meaning the “loin region.”The term major comes from the Latin maior meaning “greater.” As is typical in anatomical terminology, this comparative reference clues you into the fact that this is a larger version of a similar placed smaller muscle.
Origin
Transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae and lateral aspect of lumbar vertebral bodies
Insertion
Lesser trochanter of the femur
Action
Powerful flexor of the hip; weak lateral rotator of the hip joint; Extends the lumbar vertebral column (deepening the lumbar curve) to maintain posture
Nerve supply
Branches from the ventral rami of lumbar spinal nerves (L1, L2, and L3) before they join to form the lumbar plexus.
Blood supply
The muscle receives blood from the four lumbar arteries from the aorta, from small branches of the renal arteries, from small muscular branches of the common iliac artery, and from the deep circumflex iliac artery.
Latin
Musculus psoas major
French
Muscle grand psoas