Psoas: The Tenderloin

By Xinyi Jiang

What to do with this lean meat

    a fancy name a prime price tag

              a mignon cushion of little tendons

                    between kidneys and ribs

                            a lesser force of tear free from

                               contractions for locomotion

                                       waxy fats to saturate our hearts

                                             as cooped-up cross-bred

                                                       quadrupeds fatten on

                                                            concentrated soy and corns

                                                                  that promise marbling flecks

                                                                      to sizzle on pans melt on tongues

                                                                        What to do with the pair of sixteen-inch

                                                                      muscle of the soul from our deepest core

                                                                  tapering along spines to groins pelvis femurs

                                                               joining torsos to legs

                                                         billions of cells fire up for bipedal moves

                                                      shortened hardened inflamed

                                                by age weight junk food sedentary lifestyles

                                              stressful jobs toxic relationships                                    

                                          that tie us in knots freeze us in foetal balls

                                        compress our nerves restrict our diaphragms

                                     keep us sore and stiff afraid and confused

                                   forgetting who we are

Scientific Statement

Psoas tenderloin refers to the psoas major muscle, which connects the lower spine to the thigh bone (femur) and is crucial for hip movements. It is fundamentally the same muscle in animals and humans, though in cattle it performs relatively low-load locomotor work, contributing to its exceptional tenderness and leanness. Its culinary value can be further influenced by selective breeding for intramuscular fat (marbling).

In humans, the psoas is sometimes known as the muscle of the soul. It is a deep core muscle that plays a role in keeping humans upright. It has been described as embodying our survival instincts and primal urges, and contracts as part of a whole-body response to stress. Persistent muscle tension can contribute to chronic back and core muscle pain, as well as altered movement patterns.  The psoas is often associated with back pain, tight hips and poor postures. Research also suggests psoas health may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Bibliography

Pethick, D. W., Harper, G. S., Hocquette, J. F., & Wang, Y. H. (2006). Marbling biology—What do we know about getting fat into muscle? Australian Beef – The Leader Conference.

Raji, C. A., Meysami, S., Hashemi, S., Garg, S., Akbari, N., Gouda, A., Chodakiewitz, Y. G., Nguyen, T. D., Niotis, K., Merrill, D. A., & Attariwala, R. (2025). Psoas muscle sarcopenia predicts brain volume loss on MRI in 7,149 individuals. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, 20(Suppl. 9), e094146. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.094146