Iliacus

The iliacus (Latin: musculus iliacus) is a flat triangular-shaped muscle that is located within the pelvis and fills the iliac fossa. It stretches between the ilium of the hip bone and femur. Together with the psoas major, the iliacus forms the iliopsoas muscle. It belongs to the anterior compartment of the pelvic muscles and is one of the posterior abdominal wall muscles.

Origin

The iliacus muscle originates from the iliac fossa (upper two-thirds), internal lip of the iliac crest, lateral aspect of the sacrum, anterior sacroiliac and iliolumbar ligaments.

Insertion

The iliacus merge with the psoas major muscle and form a common tendon that inserts on the lesser trochanter of the femur.

Action

The iliacus muscle provides flexion of the thigh and trunk. Also, it assists in the external rotation of the thigh.

Innervation

The iliacus is innervated by the femoral nerve (L2, L3) that arises from the lumbar plexus.

Blood supply

The iliacus muscle is mainly supplied by the iliolumbar artery - a branch of the internal iliac artery. Besides that, it also receives arterial blood supply from the branches of the femoral, obturator and deep circumflex iliac arteries.