Muscle guide - Tensor fasciae latae

The tensor fasciae latae muscle

(M. tensor fasciae latae)

The flat and rectangular tensor fasciae latae is a skeletal muscle and belongs to the exterior hip muscles. The muscle arises from the ilium (iliac crest; anterior superior iliac spine) and joins the iliotibial band (flat structure made of connective tissue which serves as insertion for the muscles) below the great trochanter (protuberance of the thigh bone). The iliotibial band stretches across the outside of the thigh bone and strengthens the fascia of the thigh, which covers most of the muscles of the thigh.
The muscle pushes the femoral head against the acetabulum. It is involved in the flexion, the internal rotation and the abduction of the thigh in the hip joint and also influences the extension and external rotation of the knee joint by means of the iliotibial band. From an evolutionary point of view the tensor fasciae latae is an extension of the gluteus medius muscle.

When standing upright the weight of the body pushes the thigh bone to one side. The stress created is also called varus stress. The muscles arising from the iliotibial band counter this stress and reduce the pressure on the thigh bone. Therefore, the iliotibial band reduces the strain on the thigh bone.

Being located just above the flexion and extention axis, the tensor fasciae latae is - despite its small diameter - a strong hip flexor and that of a sprinter often much more denounced.