Which statement best describes the gluteus maximus according to the material?

• A. A one-joint muscle
• B. A two-joint muscle
• C. A three-joint muscle
• D. Not a muscle but a tendon

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how many joints a muscle crosses to produce its main actions. The gluteus maximus runs from the pelvis to the femur (and to the iliotibial band), so its primary actions occur at the hip joint: hip extension and external rotation. It does not cross and function across the knee joint as a primary mover, so it’s considered to span a single joint. The knee region may feel involved indirectly through the IT band, but the muscle itself isn’t acting across the knee joint. It’s a muscle, not a tendon, and its main action is at the hip, reinforcing why it’s described as a one-joint muscle.