Which muscle abducts the hip?

• A. Gluteus Minimus
• B. Gluteus Medius
• C. Adductor Magnus
• D. Gracilis

Answer: (A)

Abduction of the hip means moving the thigh away from the midline in the frontal plane. Gluteus minimus is the muscle that does this action directly: it originates on the outer ilium and inserts on the greater trochanter, so its fibers pull the femur outward to abduct the hip. It also helps stabilize the pelvis during walking, especially when the opposite leg is lifted. While the gluteus medius also contributes to hip abduction, the minimus is a primary abductor in this context and specifically linked to initiating abduction from a neutral hip position. The other two muscles pull the thigh toward the midline, so they are adductors, not abductors.