"Glutes" is simply the common, shortened term for the "gluteus" muscles. The word "gluteus" refers to the name of the muscles in your butt, whereas "glutes" is a casual way of referring to those same muscles. Essentially, there's no functional difference; they both describe the gluteal muscles.
Here's a breakdown:
-
Gluteus: This is the formal, anatomical term. Think of it like the scientific name for something. You have three gluteus muscles:
- Gluteus Maximus: The largest and most superficial of the three, primarily responsible for hip extension and external rotation.
- Gluteus Medius: Located partially under the gluteus maximus, it abducts and medially rotates the hip and stabilizes the pelvis.
- Gluteus Minimus: The smallest and deepest of the three, also abducts and medially rotates the hip and stabilizes the pelvis.
-
Glutes: This is the informal, everyday term people use to refer to their gluteal muscles as a whole. So if someone says, "I'm working on my glutes," they mean they're exercising the muscles in their butt.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gluteus | Anatomical name for the three muscles that make up the buttocks. |
| Glutes | Informal and commonly used term referring to the same group of muscles. |
In summary, they both mean the same thing, but "glutes" is just a more casual way to say "gluteus muscles."
