Anterior inferior iliac spine
The anterior inferior iliac spine is a bony eminence on the anterior border of the hip bone, or, more precisely, the wing of the ilium.Function and context
The upper portion of the spine gives origin to the straight head of the rectus femoris muscle, while a teardrop-shaped lower portion gives origin to the iliofemoral ligament of the hip joint and borders the rim of the acetabulum.
Antero-medially and inferiorly to the AIIS is the iliopsoas groove, the passage for the iliopsoas muscle as it passes down to the lesser trochanter of the femur. A vague line, the inferior gluteal line, might run from the AIIS to the greater sciatic notch which delineates the inferior extent of the gluteus minimus origin.
The AIIS is formed from a separate apophysis.Additional images
