Obturator internus
Musculus obturatorius internus
MuscularDeep musclesPelvisLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- Fan-shaped muscle lining the inner surface of the obturator membrane and surrounding pelvic bone. Its tendon turns a right angle around the lesser sciatic notch and runs laterally, flanked by the two gemelli, to the medial surface of the greater trochanter.
- Function
- Laterally rotates the extended hip, abducts the flexed hip and stabilises the femoral head.
- Size
- About 10 cm long; its intrapelvic fan is about 5 cm across.
- Clinical note
- Its fascia forms the pudendal (Alcock's) canal carrying the pudendal nerve and vessels along the side wall of the ischioanal fossa.