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The adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. They are primarily used for bringing the thighs together, which is called adduction. There are four primary muscles in this group: adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis. The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle that partially covers the adductor brevis and magnus. The adductor brevis is a short muscle that lies underneath the adductor longus. The gracilis is the most medial of the adductors and it crosses at both the hip and knee joints. The adductor magnus is the largest muscle in the medial compartment and it lies posteriorly to the other muscles.
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Adductor longus
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are used to bring the thighs together. Adductor longus is one of the adductor muscles of the medial thigh. It is a large, fan-shaped muscle located in the medial aspect of the thigh. It is triangular in shape and forms in the floor of the femoral triangle and adductor canal. The adductor longus is innervated by the anterior division of the obturator nerve (L2-L4).
The adductor longus muscle originates from the pubis bone of the pelvis and expands into a fan shape. It has a broad distal attachment along the linea aspera of the femur. The muscle forms the medial border of the femoral triangle. The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle. It partially covers the adductor brevis and magnus. The adductor longus is supplied by the anterior division of the obturator nerve. The obturator nerve is a branch of the lumbar plexus, and it descends medial to the psoas major muscle to enter the pelvis.
The adductor longus is one of the five muscles that make up the hip adductors. The other muscles are the adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and obturator externus. The adductor longus is the most anterior of the group and covers the middle part of the adductor magnus and the anterior part of the adductor brevis. The adductor longus is derived from the myotome of spinal roots L2, L3, and L4. The muscle lies in front of the adductor magnus, adductor brevis muscle, the anterior branch of the obturator nerve, and deep femoral vessels. The pectineus muscle is lateral to it while gracilis lies medially.
The adductor longus muscle plays a role in external/lateral rotation and flexion of the thigh. Along with the other hip adductors, it helps to stabilise the pelvis in standing and aids in balancing the body on the lower limb during walking. Adductor tendinopathy is a common cause of medial leg and groin pain, especially among athletes. It is caused by a disproportional strain of the muscles, often in combination with a poor warm-up and a lack of stretching.
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Adductor brevis
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh, mostly used for bringing the thighs together (called adduction). Adductor brevis is one of the five muscles in this group, the others being gracilis, obturator externus, adductor longus, and adductor magnus. Adductor brevis is a flat, triangular muscle found in the inner thigh. It is one of the shortest muscles in the adductor group and is a weak adductor of the thigh.
By its anterior surface, the adductor brevis is in relation with the pectineus, adductor longus, and anterior branches of the obturator artery, the obturator vein, and the obturator nerve. By its posterior surface, it is in relation with the adductor magnus and the posterior branches of the obturator artery, the obturator vein, and the obturator nerve. By its outer border, it is in relation with the obturator externus and the iliopsoas. By its inner border, it is in relation with the gracilis and adductor magnus. The adductor brevis is innervated by the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator nerve. The obturator nerve is derived from the lumbar plexus (anterior branches of spinal nerves L2-L4).
The blood supply for the adductor brevis muscle typically comes from the deep femoral artery (profunda femoris) and from its branch called the artery for the adductors. It can also be supplied partially from the medial circumflex femoral and obturator artery. The adductor brevis is a hip adductor, and its primary function is the adduction of the thigh. This action is particularly active when the thigh is in a flexed position and during the gait cycle. Adductor brevis also has a role in external rotation and flexion of the hip. All adductors of the thigh pull the leg medially when walking, helping to maintain balance and shift the centre of gravity onto the supporting foot, while standing and walking.
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Adductor magnus
The adductor magnus muscle is a massive triangular muscle that extends over the entire medial side of the thigh. It is a composite muscle consisting of two parts, the adductor part and the ischiocondylar part. The adductor part, also known as the pubofemoral part, arises from the outer surface of the inferior pubic ramus of the pubic bone and the ischial ramus. It is functionally considered a muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh. The adductor part can be divided into two portions: the superior portion, which arises from the pubic ramus, and the inferior portion, which arises from the ischial ramus. The superior portion of the adductor part passes obliquely and almost horizontally to insert at the upper part of the linea aspera. It then continues slightly superior and inserts at the medial margin of the gluteal tuberosity, almost reaching the greater trochanter of the femur medially to the attachment of the gluteus maximus. The hamstring part originates from the ischial tuberosity, attaches to the adductor tubercle, and inserts at the medial supracondylar line of the femur.
The two parts of the adductor magnus muscle have some similar functions but also differ in certain aspects. Besides adducting the thigh, the adductor part also contributes to the flexion of the thigh, especially the superior horizontal portion of the adductor part. The hamstring part adducts the thigh as well, but it also cooperates with the hamstring group of muscles and assists in the extension of the thigh. The adductor magnus is most active during adduction of the flexed thigh when standing, for example, when kicking with the medial side of the foot in soccer or during supine positions. The fibers of the adductor part of the muscle that attach to the linea aspera can also act as lateral rotators due to their oblique attachment.
Tight adductors can cause knee pain, especially in runners. The function of the adductor muscles is to pull the thighs together and rotate the upper leg inwards, as well as stabilize the hip. Adductor canal syndrome is an unusual cause of acute arterial occlusion in younger men, resulting from arterial compression by an abnormal musculotendinous band arising from the adductor magnus muscle.
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Gracilis
The gracilis muscle is a long, thin, flat, and slender muscle located in the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. It is the most medial and the most superficial of the adductors. It is also the weakest member of the adductor muscle group. The gracilis is the only hip adductor that crosses and acts on two joints: the hip and knee. It is also the only adductor muscle that is innervated by the femoral nerve. The gracilis muscle descends almost vertically down the leg and inserts on the medial tibia at the pes anserinus.
The gracilis muscle extends from the coxal bone to the tibia. It is a spiral unipennate muscle. The gracilis receives the majority of its vascular supply from the 'artery to the adductors', which is a branch of the deep femoral artery. The gracilis muscle is widely used in reconstructive surgery (graciloplasty), either as a pedicled flap or as a free microsurgical flap. The gracilis tendon is prone to strain injuries, resulting in adductor tendinopathy, which is common in soccer, hockey, football, and basketball athletes.
The gracilis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, which is a branch of the lumbar plexus. It arises from the L2-L3 spinal nerves. The obturator nerve also innervates the adductor longus and, sometimes, the adductor brevis. The gracilis muscle is in relation with the fascia lata, and below with the sartorius and internal saphenous nerve. The saphenous branch of the descending genicular artery also courses between the sartorius and gracilis. The adductor brevis and adductor magnus muscles are located deep to the gracilis.
The gracilis muscle acts on the hip and knee joints, resulting in several movements. It aids in flexion of the knee and medial rotation of that flexed knee. It also assists with hip adduction, knee flexion, and knee internal rotation. The gracilis muscle is important for balancing the trunk during walking.
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Obturator externus
The obturator externus is a flat, triangular, paired muscle of the gluteal region. It is one of the smaller muscles of the medial thigh and is located superiorly within the compartment. It is found on the anterior aspect of the obturator foramen, attached to the obturator membrane and the adjacent margin of the obturator foramen. The obturator externus is located in the pelvis on the anterior aspect of the innominate bones. It covers the obturator foramen and is located deep to pectineus and superior parts of the adductors of the thigh.
The obturator externus has a dual primary function, which depends on the position of the thigh. When the hip is extended, the contraction of the obturator externus causes lateral, or external rotation of the thigh. This action is especially useful in climbing and walking. When the hip is flexed, the obturator externus abducts the thigh. It does this by pulling the superior part of the femur medially, which causes the inferior part to move away from the body.
The obturator externus is innervated by the posterior branch of the obturator nerve (L3 and L4), originating from the lumbar plexus. The obturator vessels (anterior and posterior branches of the obturator artery and vein) are found deep to the obturator externus muscle, on the external surface of the obturator membrane. The anterior branch of the obturator nerve passes over the anterior surface of the muscle, while the posterior branch pierces the muscle, before both branches descend to innervate the muscles of the thigh.
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Frequently asked questions
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are used to bring the thighs together.
The adductor muscles include the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis. The pectineus muscle is not a primary hip adductor but assists in the movement.
The primary function of adductor muscles is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. They also assist in flexion and medial rotation of the femur at the hip joint.
The gracilis is the most medial of the adductor muscles. It is also the most superficial and crosses at both the hip and knee joints.
The adductor magnus is the largest adductor muscle. It is also the most commonly injured adductor muscle.
