Piriformis – Attachments, Actions & Innervation

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The piriformis muscle is a small muscle in the gluteal region of the pelvis.

image descriptionPiriformis

Posterior view of the thigh and gluteal region. Labelled muscles: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of the thigh and gluteal region with muscles labeled: gluteus medius, piriformis, quadratus femoris, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris short head and long head, gastrocnemius
Posterior view of the thigh and gluteal region. Labelled muscle: piriformis
1
2
3

image descriptionAttachments of Piriformis: Origin & Insertion

Origin: (proximal attachments)
a.Anterior surface of lateral sacrum.

Insertion: (distal attachments)
a.Greater trochanter of femur, along its upper medial surface.

Posterior view of the thigh and gluteal region. Labelled muscles: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Posterior view of the thigh and gluteal region. Labelled muscle: piriformis
Posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Origin and insertion of piriformis labelled.
1
2
3

Actions of Piriformis on the thigh (femur):

a. image descriptionLaterally Rotates thigh at the hip.

b. image descriptionAbducts thigh if hip is flexed.

Muscle anatomy isn’t easy! Simplify your studies with these time-saving muscle anatomy reference charts.

Nerve to Muscle and its Spinal Segment:

a. Branch of sacral plexus (S1, S2).

An Overview of the Posterior Muscles of the Thigh:

Test yourself image 1, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region showing all superficial muscles with no labels.
Test yourself image 2, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, all superficial muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 3, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 4, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gracilis, iliotibial tract (band), semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 5, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, piriformis, quadratus femoris, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 6, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus medius, piriformis, quadratus femoris, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 7, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles and structures labelled- gluteus minimus, piriformis, quadratus femoris, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 8, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region, lateral rotators of the thigh visible. Muscles labelled- piriformis, quadratus femoris, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 9, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, gracilis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 10, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 11, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, gracilis, semitendinosus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 12, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, adductor magnus, biceps femoris: short head, biceps femoris: long head, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 13, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, adductor magnus, gastrocnemius.
Test yourself image 14, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis, adductor magnus.
Test yourself image 15, posterior view of thigh and gluteal region. Muscles labelled- piriformis.
Test yourself image 16, posterior view of skeleton of thigh and gluteal region.
Test yourself image 17. Anterior view of pelvis and thigh. Origin and insertion of piriformis labelled.
Test yourself while observing the Piriformis muscle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Related Articles
Featured image showing two views on the anterior thigh. The image on the left shows the bony elements and the muscles of the anterior thigh, the image on the right shows the bony elements and the isolated Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle.
Tensor Fasciae Latae

An interactive tutorial teaching location, attachments and actions of Tensor Fasciae Latae muscle using beautiful anatomical illustrations.
Semitendinosus feature image show three views of the posterior thigh muscles.
Semitendinosus – Attachments, Actions & Innervation

An interactive tutorial featuring the (origin, insertion, innervation, and actions) of Semitendinosus featuring GBS iconic illustrations and animations.
Feature image for semimembranosus showing three views of the posterior muscles of the thigh, semimembranosus and the origin and insertion of semimembranosus.
Semimembranosus – Attachments, Actions & Innervation

An interactive tutorial featuring the (origin, insertion, innervation, and actions) of Semimembranosus featuring GBS iconic illustrations and animations.