The buttocks (sg.: buttock) are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals, located on the posterior of the pelvic region. In humans, the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum. They are composed of a layer of exterior skin and underlying subcutaneous fat superimposed on a left and right gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. The two gluteus maximus muscles are the largest muscles in the human body. They are responsible for movements such as straightening the body into the upright (standing) posture when it is bent at the waist; maintaining the body in the upright posture by keeping the hip joints extended; and propelling the body forward via further leg (hip) extension when walking or running.
| Buttocks | |
|---|---|
 Buttocks of a human female (upper) and a human male (lower) | |
| Details | |
| Artery | Superior gluteal artery, inferior gluteal artery |
| Nerve | Superior gluteal nerve, inferior gluteal nerve, superior cluneal nerves, medial cluneal nerves, inferior cluneal nerves |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | clunis |
| MeSH | D002081 |
| TA98 | A01.1.00.033 A01.2.08.002 |
| TA2 | 157 |
| FMA | 76446 |
| Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata] | |
In many cultures, the buttocks play a role in sexual attraction. Many cultures have also used the buttocks as a primary target for corporal punishment, as the buttocks' layer of subcutaneous fat offers protection against injury while still allowing for the infliction of pain.
Structure
The buttocks are formed by the masses of the gluteal muscles or "glutes" (the gluteus maximus muscle and the gluteus medius muscle) superimposed by a layer of fat. The superior aspect of the buttock ends at the iliac crest, and the lower aspect is outlined by the horizontal gluteal crease. The gluteus maximus has two insertion points: 1⁄3 superior portion of the linea aspera of the femur, and the superior portion of the iliotibial tractus. The masses of the gluteus maximus muscle are separated by an intermediate intergluteal cleft or "crack" in which the anus is situated.
The buttocks allow primates to sit upright without resting their weight on their feet as four-legged animals do. Females of certain species of baboon have red buttocks that blush to attract males. In the case of humans, females tend to have proportionally wider and thicker buttocks due to higher subcutaneous fat and proportionally wider hips. In humans they also have a role in propelling the body in a forward motion and aiding bowel movement.
Some baboons and all gibbons, though otherwise fur-covered, have characteristic naked callosities on their buttocks. While human children generally have smooth buttocks, mature males and females have varying degrees of hair growth, as on other parts of their body. Females may have hair growth in the gluteal cleft (including around the anus), sometimes extending laterally onto the lower aspect of the cheeks. Males may have hair growth over some or all of the buttocks.
Names
The Latin name for the buttocks is nates (English pronunciation /ˈneɪtiːz/ NAY-teez, classical pronunciation nătes [ˈnateːs]) which is plural; the singular, natis (buttock), is rarely used. There are many colloquial terms for them.
Gallery of art
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![image]()
Prominent, muscular buttocks are a standard feature of athletic and military artwork from Ancient Greece, as demonstrated by this statue of a boxer. British Museum (c. 460 BC) -
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The Motya Charioteer, from Ancient Greece (c. 460–450 BC) -
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Jean-Jacques Lequeu (c. 1785) -
![image]()
Jules Lefebvre (c. 1874) -
![image]()
Félix Vallotton (c. 1884) -
![image]()
Georges Seurat's 1884 painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte depicts a woman on the right with a prominent bustle under her dress.
Gallery
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![image]()
A burlesque stage show with three men in Las Vegas -
![image]()
Seattle's nudist cyclists with painted buttocks -
![image]()
Japanese man in a traditional swimwear Fundoshi-rokushaku -
![image]()
Posterior view of human female and male to show the comparison of their buttocks -
![image]()
Some female clothing, such as the bikini or panties, show part of the female buttocks (woman on left). Thongs, in particular, leave almost all of the buttocks exposed (woman on right). Photo is of a beach in Holland, 1999. -
![image]()
Models participate in "got ass?", a competition to judge the woman with best buttocks, at AVN Adult Entertainment Expo, Las Vegas, 2014.
See also
- Bollocks
- Buttock augmentation
- Buttock cleavage
- Butts: A Backstory
- Cultural history of the buttocks
- Cellulite
- Coccyx
- Dimples of Venus
- Hip and buttock padding
- Intimate part
- Waist–hip ratio
References
- Norman Eizenberg et al., General Anatomy: Principles and Applications (2008), p. 17.
- Hennig, Jean-Luc (1995). The rear view: A brief and elegant history of bottoms through the ages. London: Souvenir. ISBN 0-285-63303-1.
- "Police". The Times. London. 22 March 1894. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
Mr. Curtis Bennett deprecated caning on the hands and boxing the ears, and said they were exceedingly dangerous forms of punishment. Nature provided a special place for boys to be punished upon and it should be used.
- Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine, Page 586, Anthony G. Chila – 2010
- Recent Advances in Pediatrics, 2013 Suraj Gupte, p 141
- "Nates Definitions & Meanings | Dictionary.com". www.dictionary.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- A New Dictionary of the Latin and English Languages, published Ward, Lock & Co., London, 1908
External links
- "The Muscles and Fasciæ of the Thigh" (by Henry Gray) at "Anatomy of the Human Body", 1918.
The buttocks sg buttock are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals located on the posterior of the pelvic region In humans the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum They are composed of a layer of exterior skin and underlying subcutaneous fat superimposed on a left and right gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles The two gluteus maximus muscles are the largest muscles in the human body They are responsible for movements such as straightening the body into the upright standing posture when it is bent at the waist maintaining the body in the upright posture by keeping the hip joints extended and propelling the body forward via further leg hip extension when walking or running ButtocksButtocks of a human female upper and a human male lower DetailsArterySuperior gluteal artery inferior gluteal arteryNerveSuperior gluteal nerve inferior gluteal nerve superior cluneal nerves medial cluneal nerves inferior cluneal nervesIdentifiersLatinclunisMeSHD002081TA98A01 1 00 033 A01 2 08 002TA2157FMA76446Anatomical terminology edit on Wikidata In many cultures the buttocks play a role in sexual attraction Many cultures have also used the buttocks as a primary target for corporal punishment as the buttocks layer of subcutaneous fat offers protection against injury while still allowing for the infliction of pain StructureThe buttocks are formed by the masses of the gluteal muscles or glutes the gluteus maximus muscle and the gluteus medius muscle superimposed by a layer of fat The superior aspect of the buttock ends at the iliac crest and the lower aspect is outlined by the horizontal gluteal crease The gluteus maximus has two insertion points 1 3 superior portion of the linea aspera of the femur and the superior portion of the iliotibial tractus The masses of the gluteus maximus muscle are separated by an intermediate intergluteal cleft or crack in which the anus is situated The buttocks allow primates to sit upright without resting their weight on their feet as four legged animals do Females of certain species of baboon have red buttocks that blush to attract males In the case of humans females tend to have proportionally wider and thicker buttocks due to higher subcutaneous fat and proportionally wider hips In humans they also have a role in propelling the body in a forward motion and aiding bowel movement Some baboons and all gibbons though otherwise fur covered have characteristic naked callosities on their buttocks While human children generally have smooth buttocks mature males and females have varying degrees of hair growth as on other parts of their body Females may have hair growth in the gluteal cleft including around the anus sometimes extending laterally onto the lower aspect of the cheeks Males may have hair growth over some or all of the buttocks NamesThe Latin name for the buttocks is nates English pronunciation ˈ n eɪ t iː z NAY teez classical pronunciation nătes ˈnateːs which is plural the singular natis buttock is rarely used There are many colloquial terms for them Gallery of artProminent muscular buttocks are a standard feature of athletic and military artwork from Ancient Greece as demonstrated by this statue of a boxer British Museum c 460 BC The Motya Charioteer from Ancient Greece c 460 450 BC Jean Jacques Lequeu c 1785 Jules Lefebvre c 1874 Felix Vallotton c 1884 Georges Seurat s 1884 painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte depicts a woman on the right with a prominent bustle under her dress GalleryButtocks of a maleButtocks of a femaleA burlesque stage show with three men in Las Vegas Seattle s nudist cyclists with painted buttocks Japanese man in a traditional swimwear Fundoshi rokushaku Posterior view of human female and male to show the comparison of their buttocks Some female clothing such as the bikini or panties show part of the female buttocks woman on left Thongs in particular leave almost all of the buttocks exposed woman on right Photo is of a beach in Holland 1999 Models participate in got ass a competition to judge the woman with best buttocks at AVN Adult Entertainment Expo Las Vegas 2014 See alsoBollocks Buttock augmentation Buttock cleavage Butts A Backstory Cultural history of the buttocks Cellulite Coccyx Dimples of Venus Hip and buttock padding Intimate part Waist hip ratioReferencesNorman Eizenberg et al General Anatomy Principles and Applications 2008 p 17 Hennig Jean Luc 1995 The rear view A brief and elegant history of bottoms through the ages London Souvenir ISBN 0 285 63303 1 Police The Times London 22 March 1894 Archived from the original on 1 July 2014 Retrieved 5 December 2010 Mr Curtis Bennett deprecated caning on the hands and boxing the ears and said they were exceedingly dangerous forms of punishment Nature provided a special place for boys to be punished upon and it should be used Foundations of Osteopathic Medicine Page 586 Anthony G Chila 2010 Recent Advances in Pediatrics 2013 Suraj Gupte p 141 Nates Definitions amp Meanings Dictionary com www dictionary com Retrieved 10 June 2022 A New Dictionary of the Latin and English Languages published Ward Lock amp Co London 1908External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Buttocks Look up buttocks in Wiktionary the free dictionary The Muscles and Fasciae of the Thigh by Henry Gray at Anatomy of the Human Body 1918
