page_title: Internal obturator muscle
section_title: Structure
hierarchical_section_title: Internal obturator muscle / Structure
caption_attribution_description: English: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
context_page_description: The internal obturator muscle or obturator internus muscle originates on the medial surface of the obturator membrane, the ischium near the membrane, and the rim of the pubis.
  It exits the pelvic cavity through the lesser sciatic foramen.
  The internal obturator is situated partly within the lesser pelvis, and partly at the back of the hip-joint.
  It functions to help laterally rotate femur with hip extension and abduct femur with hip flexion, as well as to steady the femoral head in the acetabulum.
context_section_description: It arises from the inner surface of the antero-lateral wall of the pelvis, where it surrounds the greater part of the obturator foramen, being attached to the inferior pubic ramus and ischium, and at the side to the inner surface of the hip bone below and behind the pelvic brim, reaching from the upper part of the greater sciatic foramen above and behind to the obturator foramen below and in front.
  It also arises from the pelvic surface of the obturator membrane except in the posterior part, from the tendinous arch which completes the canal for the passage of the obturator vessels and nerve, and to a slight extent from the obturator fascia, which covers the muscle.
  The fibers converge rapidly toward the lesser sciatic foramen, and end in four or five tendinous bands, which are found on the deep surface of the muscle; these bands are reflected at a right angle over the grooved surface of the ischium between its spine and tuberosity.
  The tendon inserts on the greater trochanter of the proximal femur.
  The internal obturator muscle is also innervated by the nerve to internal obturator (L5, S1).
caption: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral regions.
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