Logan Steele
The thigh contains a variety of muscles that control movement of the hips and legs. The adductors are a group of muscles that allow you to bring your thighs together, which is called adduction. They help you stay balanced, keep your legs and hips in alignment, and allow rotation through the hips and legs. The six hip adductor muscles are all located in the adductor or medial compartment of the thigh and all mainly adduct the thigh at the hip joint. These are gracilis, pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and adductor minimus muscles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 6 |
| Muscle names | Gracilis, Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus, Adductor Minimus |
| Muscle type | Flat and quadrangular (Pectineus) |
| Muscle type | Long, strap-like (Gracilis) |
| Muscle type | Triangular and flat (Obturator externus) |
| Muscle type | Rectangular (Quadratus femoris) |
| Muscle type | Fan-shaped (Gluteus medius) |
| Muscle type | Long and thin (Sartorius) |
| Muscle function | Adduction, flexion, and rotation of the thigh (Pectineus) |
| Muscle function | Adduction, flexion, and internal rotation of the thigh (Gracilis) |
| Muscle function | Adduction, flexion, and lateral rotation of the thigh (Adductor Magnus) |
| Muscle function | Adduction of the thigh (Obturator externus) |
| Muscle function | Adduction of the thigh (Gluteus maximus) |
| Muscle function | Adduction of the thigh (Gluteus medius) |
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What You'll Learn
Adductor longus
The adductor longus is one of the muscles that adduct the thigh. It is a large, fan-shaped muscle located in the medial aspect of the thigh. It is one of the five adductor muscles of the medial thigh, along with the adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and obturator externus. These muscles are on the inside of the thigh, starting at the pelvis and extending to the femur (thigh bone).
The adductor longus is situated most anteriorly in this group and covers the middle part of the adductor magnus and the anterior part of the adductor brevis. It forms the medial border of the femoral triangle and is innervated by the anterior division of the obturator nerve (L2-L4). The obturator nerve is a branch of the lumbar plexus and supplies sensation to the upper medial thigh. The obturator nerve arises from the lumbar plexus and descends medial to the psoas major muscle to enter the pelvis.
The adductor longus muscle plays a role in the external/lateral rotation and flexion of the thigh. Along with the other hip adductors, it helps to stabilize the pelvis in a standing position and aids in balancing the body on the lower limb during walking. The primary function of this muscle group is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. The adductor longus is also involved in external rotation and flexion of the thigh, and it forms the medial border of the femoral triangle.
Adductor tendinopathy is a common injury associated with the adductor longus muscle, especially among athletes. It can cause medial leg and groin pain and is often caused by sudden changes in direction, creating a quick adduction against a large abduction force, which stresses the tendon. This type of injury is common in sports such as ice skating, horse riding, soccer, football, karate, and running.
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Adductor brevis
The adductor brevis muscle has a narrow origin on the anterior surface of the body of the pubis, with some fibres arising from the lateral surface of the inferior pubic ramus. From there, the muscle widens into a triangular shape as it extends towards its insertion on the femur. The muscle inserts on the superior half of the medial lip of the linea aspera, continuing halfway down an imaginary line between the lesser trochanter and linea aspera. This insertion is located on the upper third of the femur, medial to the insertion of the adductor magnus and lateral to the insertion of the pectineus muscle.
The blood supply for the adductor brevis muscle typically comes from the deep femoral artery (profunda femoris) and its branch, the artery for the adductors. It can also receive a partial supply from the medial circumflex femoral and obturator artery. The venous blood from this region is drained by the deep femoral vein, which follows the path of its artery before emptying into the femoral vein.
The adductor brevis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus (anterior branches of spinal nerves L2-L4). The anterior and posterior surfaces of the muscle are crossed by the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator nerve, respectively. The obturator nerve also supplies the adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis muscles.
In terms of function, the adductor brevis muscle is primarily responsible for adduction of the thigh, especially when the thigh is flexed and during the gait cycle. It also plays a role in external rotation and flexion of the hip, 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 is a large triangular muscle that extends over the entire medial side of the thigh. It is the largest and strongest muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh, which also consists of the adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, and gracilis muscles. The adductor magnus 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 considered a muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh. The adductor part can be further 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. The larger, inferior portion of the adductor part fibres that originate from the ischial ramus fan out inferolaterally to insert along the entire length of the linea aspera and the upper part of the medial supracondylar line.
The ischiocondylar part of the adductor magnus forms a thick medial margin that descends almost vertically towards the lower end of the thigh. It ends in a rounded tendon and inserts at the adductor tubercle on the medial femoral condyle. The adductor magnus occupies most of the medial portion of the thigh. Anterior to the adductor magnus muscle are the pectineus, adductor longus, and adductor brevis muscles. The neurovascular structures in relation to the anterior surface of the adductor magnus include the femoral artery and vein, the deep femoral artery and vein, and the posterior branches of the obturator artery, nerve, and vein. On its posterior aspect, the adductor magnus muscle is in relation with the gluteus maximus, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and the sciatic nerve. The medial border of the adductor magnus muscle is related to the gracilis and sartorius muscles, while its superior border is related to the obturator externus and quadratus femoris.
The adductor magnus is a powerful adductor of the thigh, particularly active when the legs are moved from a wide-spread position to one in which the legs are parallel. The part attached to the linea aspera acts as a lateral rotator, while the part that reaches the medial epicondyle acts as a medial rotator when the leg is rotated outwards and flexed, also extending the hip joint. The adductor magnus is both a dynamic stabiliser of the pelvis and femur, and a prime mover of the femur into adduction. It is similar to the deltoid muscle, with one portion flexing the thigh and working as a medial rotator, while the other extends the thigh and is a lateral rotator. The anterior fibres, which originate from the rami of pubis and ischium, may assist in flexion, while the posterior fibres that arise from the ischial tuberosity may assist in extension. The adductor magnus has a large hip extensor muscle moment arm, and it is a more effective hip extensor than the hamstrings or gluteus maximus when the hip is flexed. Peak contractions of the muscle are seen in positions of hip flexion, such as full squats.
The adductor magnus is palpated on the medial aspect of the thigh while resisting hip adduction against resistance and feeling for the engagement of the musculature. Insufficient length of the adductor magnus and other hip adductor muscles can result in contracture of the hip adductors or hip adduction deformity. Adductor tendinopathy is a common injury and cause of groin pain among athletes, particularly in sports such as football and ice hockey.
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Gracilis
The gracilis is a long, slender, spiral unipennate muscle found in the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. It is the most superficial of the hip adductors, overlying the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and pectineus muscles. It is also the weakest of the adductor muscle groups.
The gracilis muscle is a thin, flat, long muscle that attaches to the coxal bone and tibia. It is the only hip adductor that crosses and acts on two joints: the hip and knee. It is also the only adductor muscle that flexes the knee. The gracilis muscle is commonly used in reconstructive surgery (graciloplasty) as a free microsurgical flap or a pedicled flap.
The gracilis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, specifically the anterior branch of the obturator nerve (L2-L4), which arises from the lumbar plexus. The obturator nerve innervates the gracilis muscle via the lumbar spinal vertebrae. The gracilis muscle receives most of its vascular supply from the 'artery to the adductors', a branch of the deep femoral artery. The gracilis muscle also receives a small amount of blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral artery and a minor branch of the femoral artery.
The gracilis muscle is prone to strain injuries, especially in athletes who play soccer, hockey, football, and basketball. These injuries can result in adductor tendinopathy or groin strains. Tearing of the gracilis muscle usually occurs near the bony attachments at the pelvis.
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Pectineus
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle located in the superomedial part of the anterior thigh. It is one of the muscles located on the medial thigh, alongside a group of four primary large muscles: the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis muscles, which primarily function in hip adduction.
The pectineus muscle assists in hip adduction and flexion, and is considered a transitional muscle between the anterior thigh and medial thigh. It is innervated by the femoral nerve (L2 and L3) and, in some cases, by the obturator nerve. The muscle arises from the pectineal line of the pubis and, to a lesser extent, from the surface of the bone in front of it, between the iliopectineal eminence and pubic tubercle. The fibres pass downward, backward, and lateral, inserting into the pectineal line of the femur, which leads from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera.
The primary function of the pectineus muscle is hip flexion, but it also produces adduction and external rotation of the hip. It is the most anterior adductor of the hip and has the most superior attachment of all the thigh adductors. The muscle helps to stabilize the pelvis and balance the trunk on the lower extremity during walking.
The pectineus muscle can become injured through overstretching, such as stretching the leg too far out to the side or front of the body, or through rapid movements like kicking or sprinting. Treatment of a pectineus muscle injury involves protecting the injured muscle from further harm, minimizing activities that use the muscle, and icing the injury to reduce swelling and pain.
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Frequently asked questions
The adductor muscles of the thigh include the gracilis, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, and adductor magnus.
The adductor muscles allow you to bring your thighs toward each other, which is called adduction. They also help with balance and rotating the legs inward.
The adductor magnus is the largest adductor muscle. It is similar in function to the deltoid muscle, with one portion flexing the thigh and working as a medial rotator, and the other extending the thigh and working as a lateral rotator.
The gracilis is the most superficial and medial adductor muscle. It is a long, strap-like muscle that descends from the pelvis to the tibia.
The pectineus is the most superior adductor muscle. It is flat and quadrangular in shape and originates from the pectineal line of the pubis.
