iliacus muscle iliacus muscle the iliacus is a flat, triangular muscle which fills the iliac fossa. it forms the lateral portion of iliopsoas, providing flexion of the thigh and lower limb at the acetabulofemoral joint. iliacus muscleposition of iliacus muscle (shown in red.)the iliacus and nearby musclesdetailspronunciation/ɪˈlaɪ.əkəs/originupper two-thirds of the iliac fossainsertionbase of the lesser trochanter of femurarterymedial femoral circumflex artery, iliac branch of iliolumbar arterynervefemoral nerveactionsflexes and rotates laterally thighantagonistgluteus maximusidentifierslatinmusculus iliacusta98a04.7.02.003ta22594fma22310anatomical terms of muscle structure the iliacus arises from the iliac fossa on the interior side of the hip bone, and also from the region of the anterior inferior iliac spine (aiis). it joins the psoas major to form the iliopsoas. it proceeds across the iliopubic eminence through the muscular lacuna to its insertion on the lesser trochanter of the femur. its fibers are often inserted in front of those of the psoas major and extend distally over the lesser trochanter. nerve supply the iliopsoas is innervated by the femoral nerve and direct branches from the lumbar plexus. function in open-chain exercises, as part of the iliopsoas, the iliacus is important for lifting (flexing) the femur forward (e.g. front scale). in closed-chain exercises, the iliopsoas bends the trunk forward and can lift the trunk from a lying posture (e.g. sit-ups, back scale) because the psoas major crosses several vertebral joints and the sacroiliac joint. from its origin in the lesser pelvis the iliacus acts exclusively on the hip joint. additional images position of iliacus muscle (shown in red.) animation. right hip bone. internal surface. (iliac fossa visible at upper left.) notes davenport, kathleen l. (2019-01-01), elson, lauren e. (ed.), "chapter 9 - the professional dancer's hip", performing arts medicine, philadelphia: elsevier, pp. 77–87, isbn 978-0-323-58182-0, retrieved 2021-01-17 platzer (2004), p 234 thieme atlas of anatomy (2006), p 422