Gluteus minimus

Looks like

The smallest and deepest buttock muscle, a fan from the outer hip bone to the front of the bony bump at the top of the thigh (greater trochanter).

What it does

Holds the pelvis level when standing on one leg and turns the thigh inward.

Keeping it well

Its tendon is a common cause of outer hip pain in midlife (gluteal tendinopathy); avoid crossing legs and build strength gradually.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Restless legs syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus
• Varicose veins