Where is the gluteus maximus located?

The gluteus maximus is located in the buttocks. It is the large, superficial muscle that gives the buttocks much of their rounded shape and sits over deeper gluteal muscles, including the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus.

Despite its familiar name, the gluteus maximus is more than a cosmetic muscle. It powerfully extends the hip, helping the body rise from a chair, climb stairs, run, jump, and maintain an upright posture. It also assists with rotating and stabilizing the thigh. Its size is closely related to humans’ ability to stand and move efficiently on two legs.

A common mix-up is treating “buttocks” and “gluteus maximus” as exact synonyms. The buttocks are an external body region containing skin, subcutaneous fat, and several muscles; the gluteus maximus is the principal muscle in that region. “Glutes” may refer collectively to the maximus, medius, and minimus.