Two undergraduate students at Tulane University have identified a previously undocumented muscle attachment in the human hip. The discovery, made in 2024 by then-sophomores Dominic Roy and Cooper Bruce, was confirmed by R. Shane Tubbs, Ph.D., professor of neurosurgery and director of surgical anatomy at Tulane School of Medicine. The finding has been published in the journal Clinical Anatomy.
While dissecting cadaver specimens to study the connection between the iliacus and psoas major muscles, Roy noticed an unfamiliar muscle situated on the other side of the iliac fascia. Neither he nor Dr. Tubbs could immediately identify it. Subsequent research through anatomical literature and textbooks failed to reveal any prior documentation of this structure, suggesting it was a new discovery.
"They identified a different part of a muscle that we had not looked at yet," Tubbs told Fox News Digital. "It’s deep in the pelvis and runs out to the front of your hip."
Potential Medical Applications
The exact function of the newly identified muscle is still under investigation, but researchers theorize it may play a role in stabilizing the psoas major muscle, which is crucial for hip flexion. The next phase of research will involve determining if the muscle attachment can be identified using MRI scans. This could allow scientists to study whether its presence correlates with specific symptoms and potentially inform treatment approaches.
"More research is needed for us to better elucidate what it does," Tubbs stated. "Can you see it on imaging? Does it contribute to patients’ problems? But I think this is the first step in identifying something."
Tubbs suggested that increased awareness of this muscle could enhance patient care, particularly for those undergoing hip surgery. He noted that the muscle's fibers attach directly to the front of the hip joint, potentially making it a target for physical therapy or, if overactive, for weakening injections to alleviate pain or other symptoms.
Anatomical Variation and Evolution
The researchers observed that this muscle attachment was not present in every cadaver studied, highlighting the natural variation in human anatomy. Tubbs emphasized this point, telling students that "no two of you are built the same inside or out."
The same muscle attachment was also found in gorillas, prompting speculation about a potential evolutionary link. Bruce questioned why this anatomical feature might persist in some humans but not others, suggesting possible connections to specific physical activities or needs.
This discovery underscores the ongoing nature of anatomical science. "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 remarked. The experience has inspired Roy and Bruce, who are now seniors, to pursue careers in medicine, with Roy planning to enter a master’s program in anatomy.