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The Daily Insight

What is obturator Externus

Author

William Taylor

Published Apr 08, 2026

Obturator externus (OE) muscle is the conical shaped short external rotator located in the outer side of obturator membrane in lateral wall of pelvis.

What is the main action of the obturator Internus?

Internal obturator muscleNerveNerve to obturator internus (L5, S1, S2)ActionsAbducts & laterally rotates the extended hip and abducts the flexed thigh at the hip, and stabilizes the hip during walkingIdentifiersLatinMusculus obturatorius internus

What does the obturator nerve control?

The obturator nerve (L2–L4) supplies the pectineus; adductor (longus, brevis, and magnus); gracilis; and external obturator muscles. This nerve controls adduction and rotation of the thigh. A small cutaneous zone on the internal thigh is supplied by sensory fibers.

What does the obturator do?

The obturator internus (OI) is a hip muscle that originates deep within the pelvis, wraps out and inserts on the posterior aspect of the femur head (the top of the thigh bone when it combines to form the hip joint). The main movement function of the OI is to rotate the leg externally.

What Innervates obturator Externus?

Innervation. Obturator externus is innervated by the posterior branch of the obturator nerve (L3 and L4), originating from the lumbar plexus.

Why is obturator internus tight?

The obturator internus can become tensioned or spasmed from overworking, muscle imbalances, injuries, and postural changes. Some symptoms of obturator internus muscle tension include: Hips that feel tight and your feet always seem to be rotated out.

Which artery supplies the obturator Externus?

OriginInternal iliac arterySupplyFemoral head, obturator externus muscle, hip adductors

How do you assess an obturator internus?

The obturator internus is located in this area. The muscle should feel somewhat soft. Have the patient contract the muscle to ensure correct location. External rotation can be tested by asking the patient to lift the top knee upward toward the ceiling while keeping the foot on the supporting surface.

What is the primary difference between the obturator internus and Externus?

The obturator internus abducts the leg (moves the leg away from the body), while the obturator externus adducts the leg (moves the leg toward the body).

Can you palpate the obturator Externus?

The OI is palpated internally with an examining finger angling out toward the hip. You can see the palpation here on my lovely pelvic model. The OI can also be palpated by examining medial to the ischial tuberosity, then angling in toward the obturator foramen.

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What is the purpose of an obturator in a tracheostomy?

Obturator: The obturator is used when placing a trach tube or during trach changes. It is inserted into the main body of the tracheostomy tube and acts as a guide to help place the trach tube into the airway. Its smooth, rounded tip protects the inside of the airway from damage during insertion.

How do I strengthen my obturator Externus?

Grab the right knee with both hands and pull it toward the left shoulder until feeling the stretch. Hold the stretch for thirty seconds. Repeat on the opposite side. Perform this stretch three times a week.

What is obturator canal?

The obturator canal is a passageway formed in the obturator foramen by part of the obturator membrane and the pelvis. It connects the pelvis to the thigh.

Why is obturator nerve spared in spinal Anaesthetic?

Spinal anesthesia does not reliably prevent the obturator reflex. Regional anesthesia is another potential treatment modality to prevent the obturator reflex during TURBT. Motor blockade of the obturator nerve will prevent this adduction in the event of inadvertent nerve stimulation.

Is the obturator nerve anterior or posterior?

The obturator nerve divides into anterior and posterior divisions of the obturator nerve. These divisions both provide skeletal musculature innervation, and the anterior division terminates as the cutaneous branch of the obturator nerve.

Is obturator Externus a gluteal region?

The external obturator muscle, obturator externus muscle (/ˌɒbtjʊəˈreɪtər ɪkˈstɜːrnəs/; OE) is a flat, triangular muscle, which covers the outer surface of the anterior wall of the pelvis. It is sometimes considered part of the medial compartment of thigh, and sometimes considered part of the gluteal region.

What structures go through the obturator foramen?

Through the canal the obturator artery, obturator vein and obturator nerve pass out of the pelvis.

Where is the obturator vein?

The obturator vein begins in the upper portion of the adductor region of the thigh and enters the pelvis through the upper part of the obturator foramen, in the obturator canal.

What is the action of the quadratus femoris?

The main action of the quadratus femoris muscle is external (lateral) rotation of the thigh.

What muscles attach to the obturator membrane?

The obturator membrane provides attachment site for the obturator muscles – the external obturator muscle and the internal obturator muscle.

How do you relax the obturator Internus?

Obturator internus stretch: In standing, bring your left knee up on a table keeping your back leg straight. Lean forward until you feel a stretch in glute area. Hold for 30 seconds, repeat 2x/daily.

How do you treat an obturator Internus pain?

The obturator internus tendon sheath and bursa were injected with 2.5 ml of 0.5% lidocaine combined with 10 mg of triamcinolone. The patient reported immediate complete relief of pain with continued relief at 2 and 6 months post-injection.

What is the Coccygeus?

Coccygeus also known as ischiococcygeus is a triangular-shaped sheet of muscle located posterior to the levator ani muscles in the pelvic floor. The coccygeus, together with the levator ani, forms the pelvic diaphragm.

Is obturator Internus part of pelvic floor?

What other muscle sharply turns ninety degrees from its attachment to its origin? The obturator internus traverses the inside of the pelvis and attaches mid-belly to an important tendon, the Arcuate Tendon Levator Ani (ATLA) , which becomes the means by which the obturator connects to the pelvic floor.

Where does obturator Internus insertion?

The obturator internus muscle originates from the inferior margin of the superior pubic ramus and from the pelvic surface of the obturator membrane. Its tendon exits the pelvis through the lesser sciatic foramen to insert onto the greater trochanter of the femur to laterally rotate the thigh.

What is an obturator instrument?

An obturator is part of a tracheostomy tube, which has three types and different parts; the outer cannula with neck plate, inner cannula and obturator, which is used to insert a tracheostomy tube. The obturator fits inside the tube and provides a smooth surface for the tracheostomy to go through.

Why would you use a fenestrated trach?

Fenestrations permit airflow, which, in addition to air leaking around the tube, allows the patient to phonate and cough more effectively. That these tubes allow for patient speech is an important feature.

What are the sizes of tracheostomy tube?

A 10-mm outer diameter tube is usually appropriate for adult women, and an 11-mm outer diameter tube is usually ap- propriate for adult men as an initial tracheostomy tube size.

What is the difference between Shiley and Portex?

It can be seen that the nomenclature differs between different brands, for example, Portex™ tubes have ‘sizes’ equal to the ID of the tube without its inner cannula, while the given ‘size’ of Shiley™ tubes does not equate to any measurement, but closely approximates to the ID of the inner cannula (which must be in …

What is the obturator muscle test?

The obturator test is a physical test of inflammation in the region of the obturator internus muscle. The usual cause is an inflamed appendix on the right side. The test is positive if pain is elicited on flexion of the hip and rotation internally.

How do you injure obturator Internus?

Injury of the obturator internus muscle is rare. It has been reported in young male athletes involved in kicking sports because of tackling, falling, and kicking.