Psoas Major Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The psoas major muscle is a hip flexor located in the lumbar region of the body.

image descriptionPsoas Major (Musculus Psoas Major)

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Gracilis, Sartorius, Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Iliacus and Psoas Major (highlighted in green).
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Gracilis, Vastus Intermedius, Vastus Medialis, Adductors Longus, Pectineus, Iliacus and Psoas Major (highlighted in green).
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Gracilis, Adductor Magnus, Adductor Brevis, Iliacus and Psoas Major (highlighted in green).
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Psoas Major.
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image descriptionAttachments of Psoas Major : Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal) attachments:
a. Bodies and bases of tranverse processes of L1-L5.

Insertion (distal) attachments:
a. Lesser trochanter of femur.

Understand psoas major anatomy faster with these 3D muscle anatomy videos.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Gracilis, Sartorius, Vastus Lateralis, Rectus Femoris, Adductor Longus, Pectineus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Iliacus and Psoas Major (highlighted in green).
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Psoas Major.
The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the attachments of Psoas Major muscle with the origin at the bodies and bases of transverse processes of L1-L5 and insertion on the lesser trochanter of the femur.
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Actions of Psoas Major on the thigh (femur) :

a. image descriptionFlexes thigh at the hip.

b. image descriptionLaterally rotates thigh at the hip.

c.  image descriptionFlexes vertebral column (torso).

Nerve to muscle and its spinal segment:

Branches (ventral rami) of lumbar plexus (L1-L3).

An Overview of the Anterior Muscles of the Thigh

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9 and the answers are concealed.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Sartorius 9. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Vastus Lateralis 7. Vastus Medialis 8. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Intermedius 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Vastus Intermedius 6. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Pectineus 4. Adductor Longus 5. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Brevis 4. Adductor Magnus 5. Gracilis.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Adductor Brevis 4. Adductor Magnus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Magnus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major.
A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the attachments of Psoas Major muscle with the origin at the bodies and bases of transverse processes of L1-L5 and insertion on the lesser trochanter of the femur.
Test yourself while observing the Psoas Major muscle
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