Obturator internus (left) (Musculus obturator internus)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Lines the lateral pelvic wall and exits through the lesser sciatic foramen, bending over an osseous pulley to the greater trochanter — with piriformis and quadratus femoris a core lateral rotator of the hip.
Origin & insertion
Inner surface of the obturator membrane and surrounding bony rim.
Action
Laterally rotates the femur and steadies the hip during lateral movement.
Innervation
Nerve to obturator internus (L5–S2).
Clinical notes
Its referred perineal pain mimics chronic pelvic floor syndromes; pelvic surgeons navigate its nerve branch in deep perineal dissections.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Obturator internus (left)?
Lines the lateral pelvic wall and exits through the lesser sciatic foramen, bending over an osseous pulley to the greater trochanter — with piriformis and quadratus femoris a core lateral rotator of the hip.
Why is the Obturator internus (left) clinically important?
Its referred perineal pain mimics chronic pelvic floor syndromes; pelvic surgeons navigate its nerve branch in deep perineal dissections.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details