Two undergraduate students at Tulane University have discovered a previously undocumented muscle attachment in the human hip, a finding that has been published in the journal Clinical Anatomy. The discovery was made in 2024 by then-sophomores Dominic Roy and Cooper Bruce while volunteering in the cadaver lab under the guidance of R. Shane Tubbs, a professor of neurosurgery and surgical anatomy at Tulane School of Medicine.
While dissecting hip specimens to examine the connection between the iliacus and psoas major muscles, Roy noticed an unfamiliar muscle lateral to the iliac fascia, near the inguinal region of the pelvis. "I spotted a similar looking muscle that was on the other side of the Iliac fascia, close to the inguinal region of the pelvis," Roy told Fox News Digital. "I called Dr. Tubbs over and asked, ‘What is this?’ We didn't talk about this in our morning meetings ... and I think he was as stumped as me."
After an extensive review of anatomical literature failed to identify the muscle, the team concluded it was a new discovery. Tubbs, who is also a co-editor-in-chief of Gray's Anatomy, described the finding as "serendipity."
Potential Medical Applications
While the exact function of the newly identified muscle is still under investigation, researchers believe it may play a role in stabilizing the psoas major, a key muscle for hip flexion. The team plans to explore whether MRI scans can detect the muscle attachment in living individuals and if its presence correlates with specific symptoms or medical conditions. "More research is needed for us to better elucidate what it does," Tubbs said. "Can you see it on imaging? Does it contribute to patients' problems? But I think this is the first step in identifying something."
The discovery could potentially enhance future hip surgeries and treatments for hip pain. Understanding this muscle might allow surgeons to better assess patient symptoms or decide if altering the muscle could alleviate pain. Physical therapists might also develop targeted exercises to strengthen or rehabilitate the muscle, which attaches directly to the hip joint.
Anatomical Variation and Evolution
Researchers noted that the muscle attachment was not present in every cadaver examined, highlighting the natural variations in human anatomy. "When you look beneath the layers of the skin, human beings have lots of variation," Tubbs explained. "I tell our students that no two of you are built the same inside or out."
Interestingly, a similar muscle attachment was found in gorillas, suggesting a potential evolutionary link. This observation raises questions about why the muscle persists in some humans and not others, with researchers speculating that lifestyle or activity levels might play a role.
The experience in the cadaver lab reinforced the importance of hands-on learning for aspiring medical professionals, underscoring that anatomical discovery is an ongoing process. "The bottom line is that anatomical discovery doesn't end when a textbook is published ... and discovery in the anatomical sciences continues on, even in the year 2026," Tubbs stated.