Anatomy
psoas muscle
[ soh-uhs muhs-uhl ]
Subclass of:
Skeletal muscle
Definitions related to psoas muscle:
  • (muscle, psoas) A group of muscles on the abdominal spine, in general extending from the lumbar vertebrae to the femur; the primary function is flexion of the hip joint.
    CDISC Terminology
    Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
  • Muscles of the lower back whose actions involve the flexion of the hips and lumbar spine. The term may refer to psoas major muscle and psoas minor muscle, both located in the lower back.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A powerful flexor of the thigh at the hip joint (psoas major) and a weak flexor of the trunk and lumbar spinal column (psoas minor). Psoas is derived from the Greek psoa, the plural meaning muscles of the loin. It is a common site of infection manifesting as abscess (PSOAS ABSCESS). The psoas muscles and their fibers are also used frequently in experiments in muscle physiology.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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