The greater trochanter is a lateral (away from the midline of the body) projection on the proximal femur to which the tendon ends of muscles are attached. Major muscles attached to the greater trochanter include the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus, the three muscles that make up the buttocks. These muscles enable extension (straightening, or increasing the angle), abduction (movement away from the midline of the body), and external and internal rotation of the hip joint. Biomechanically, the greater trochanter increases the lever arm for the attached muscles and increases the torque generated around the hip joint. The lesser trochanter provides an attachment point for the psoas major and iliacus muscles. Together the psoas major and iliacus muscles form the iliopsoas. The iliopsoas passes over the anterior (front) side of the pelvis and serves as the strongest flexor for the hip.
