The glutes, or gluteal muscles, are located on the back of the pelvis region in humans. These muscles combine with a layer of fat to provide a cushiony layer of flesh to sit on.
The term glutes refers to three different muscles: the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus is the largest of the muscles, and it provides much of the bulk in the buttocks region. Both the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus are smaller muscles located beneath the gluteus maximus. All three muscles function to rotate the thigh toward and away from the midline of the body.
