Core of Body

• The body's core muscles are the foundation for all other movement. The muscles of the torso stabilize the spine and provide a solid foundation for movement in the extremities.

• These core muscles lie deep within the torso. They generally attach to the spine, pelvis and muscles that support the scapula.

• When these muscles contract, we stabilize the spine, pelvis and shoulders and create a solid base of support. We are then able to generate powerful movements of the extremities.

• Many people will naturally have an imbalance between the strength of their abdominal muscles and the lower back muscles.

• Origin – the muscular attachment on the non-moving bone

• Insertion – the muscular attachment on the moving bone

• All muscles are controlled by nerves [innervation]

• All muscles have a good blood supply

PIRIFORMIS

• from Latin piriformis = "pear shaped")

• flat muscle, pyramidal in shape, lying almost parallel with the posterior margin of the Gluteus medius

• Origin: anterior sacrum

• Insertion: superior border of the greater trochanter of femur

• Laterally rotates and abducts thigh @ hip jt

Sacrum: pelvic surface. (Attachment for Piriformis identified as red outline at bottom right.)

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