Psoas minor muscle

Psoas minor muscle
Muscles of the iliac and anterior femoral regions. (Psoas minor visible near top right.)
Latin	m. psoas minor
Gray's	subject #127 467
Origin	Side of T12+L1 and IV Disc between
Insertion	Pectineal line and iliopectineal eminence
Artery
Nerve	Lumbar plexus
Actions	Weak trunk flexor
Antagonist	Gluteus maximus
MeSH	Psoas+Muscles

The psoas minor is a long, slender skeletal muscle which, when present, is located in front of the psoas major muscle. This muscle does not exist in about half the human population , or, according to some authors , in 40% of the population.

Actions

The psoas minor is a weak flexor of the lumbar vertebral column.

Course

Psoas minor originates from the vertical fascicles inserted on the last thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae. From there, it passes down onto the medial border of the psoas major, and is inserted to the innominate line and the iliopectineal eminence. Additionally, it attaches to and stretches the deep surface of the iliac fascia and, occasionally, its lowermost fibers reach the inguinal ligament. Variations occur, however, and the insertion on the iliopubic eminence sometimes radiates into the iliopectineal arch.

Additional images

• 

  Right hip bone. Internal surface.

• 

  Right femur. Posterior surface.

References

• Bendavid, Robert; Abrahamson, Jack; Arregui, Maurice E. (2001). Abdominal Wall Hernias: Principle and Management. Springer. ISBN 0387950044. http://books.google.se/books?id=ai6fOllPH44C&pg=RA1-PA58. 
• Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol 1: Locomotor system (5th ed.). Thieme. ISBN 3-13-533305-1.  (ISBN for the Americas 1-58890-159-9.)
• Tank, Patrick W. (2005). Grant's Dissector (13th ed. ed.). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-5484-4. 
• Gray, Henry; Standring, Susan (2008). Gray's Anatomy - The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (40th ed.). Churchill Livingstone - Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-443-06684-9. 

External links

• LUC psmn
• -1254817712 at GPnotebook