Medical Term for Buttocks
The medical term for the buttocks is "gluteal region" or "nates."
Anatomical Terminology
The buttocks are formally referred to in medical literature using several accepted terms:
- Gluteal region: The most commonly used medical term, referring to the anatomical area formed by the gluteal muscles and overlying soft tissues 1
- Nates: Classical anatomical term for the buttocks
- Clunium: Less commonly used Latin term
Anatomical Components
The gluteal region comprises several distinct anatomical structures that define its three-dimensional shape 2:
- Gluteus maximus muscle: The primary muscle providing bulk and projection
- Subcutaneous fat layer: Distributed with characteristic thickness patterns (thicker centrally, thinner laterally)
- Superficial fascia: Present predominantly in the upper buttock region
- Skin and dermis: In the sacral and coccygeal areas, the dermis adheres tightly to underlying bone
Clinical Context
In clinical practice, the term used depends on the specific context:
- "Gluteal region" is preferred in surgical and anatomical descriptions 3, 4
- "Buttocks" remains acceptable in patient communication and general medical documentation
- Specific anatomical landmarks include the gluteal fold, trochanteric depression, and point of maximal projection when describing aesthetic or surgical anatomy 5, 6
The gluteal region is bounded superiorly by the iliac crest, inferiorly by the gluteal fold, medially by the intergluteal cleft, and laterally by the greater trochanter of the femur.