Logan Steele
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that bring the legs inwards towards each other and stabilize the pelvis during activities like walking, running, sprinting, accelerating, and jumping. The adductor muscle group includes the adductor magnus, adductor longus, and adductor brevis, which originate on the pubic rami and insert on the femur. The adductor magnus, the largest of the hip adductors, also has a hamstring portion that shares similarities in structure, attachment, and innervation with the hamstring muscles. The adductors are often overlooked in strength training and injury prevention programs, but they are crucial for controlling the leg and stabilizing the pelvis during various movements.
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What You'll Learn
Adductor Magnus
The adductor magnus is a large, triangular muscle that extends over the entire medial side of the thigh. It is a composite muscle, consisting of two parts: the adductor part (or pubofemoral part) and the ischiocondylar part. The adductor part can be further divided into superior and inferior portions, which originate from the pubic ramus and ischial ramus, respectively. The superior portion 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 to insert along the linea aspera and the upper part of the medial supracondylar line. The ischiocondylar part of the muscle forms a thick medial margin that descends towards the lower end of the thigh, ending in a rounded tendon that inserts at the adductor tubercle on the medial femoral condyle.
The adductor magnus is a dynamic stabiliser of the pelvis and femur, and a prime mover of the femur into adduction. It also works to medially rotate the thigh at the hip joint. The muscle is similar in function to the deltoid muscle, with one portion flexing the thigh and acting as a medial rotator, while the other extends the thigh and acts as a lateral rotator. The adductor magnus is a more effective hip extensor than the hamstrings or gluteus maximus when the hip is flexed.
The adductor magnus is innervated by two different nerves: the obturator nerve and the sciatic nerve. The obturator nerve innervates the adductor portion of the muscle, while the sciatic nerve innervates the hamstring portion.
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Adductor Longus
Adductor muscles are a group of three muscles found in the inner thigh that help control the leg and stabilize the pelvis during activities such as walking, running, sprinting, accelerating, and jumping. Adductor longus is one of the adductor muscles of the medial thigh. It is a large, fan-shaped muscle situated most anteriorly of this group, forming the medial border of the femoral triangle. The adductor longus muscle plays a role in external/lateral rotation and flexion of the thigh. It also helps to stabilize the pelvis in standing and aids in balancing the body on the lower limb during walking.
The adductor longus muscle is located in the medial aspect of the thigh and belongs to the adductors of the thigh, along with the adductor brevis, adductor magnus, pectineus, and gracilis muscles. The muscle originates from the anterior surface of the body of the pubis, inferior to the pubic crest, and lateral to the pubic symphysis. It inserts onto the middle third of the medial lip of the linea aspera. The adductor longus muscle lies in front of the adductor magnus and adductor brevis muscles, with the pectineus muscle lateral to it and the gracilis muscle medial to it.
The adductor longus muscle is supplied by the anterior division of the obturator nerve, specifically the L2-L4 spinal roots. The obturator nerve is a branch of the lumbar plexus, which descends medial to the psoas major muscle to enter the pelvis. The blood supply to the adductor longus muscle comes from two arteries: the deep femoral artery (a branch of the femoral artery) and the obturator artery (a branch of the internal iliac artery). The main action of the adductor longus muscle is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint.
The adductor longus muscle is susceptible to injuries, especially in athletes participating in sports such as ice skating, horse riding, soccer, football, karate, and running. Adductor tendinopathy, caused by sudden changes in direction or inadequate warm-up and stretching, can lead to medial leg and groin pain. Early assessment and rehabilitation are crucial to prevent long-term career-threatening injuries for athletes.
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Adductor Brevis
The adductor brevis muscle is in relation with several other muscles and structures by its anterior and posterior surfaces. Anteriorly, it is related to the pectineus, adductor longus, and anterior branches of the obturator artery, vein, and nerve. Posteriorly, it is related to the adductor magnus and the posterior branches of the obturator artery, vein, and nerve. The obturator nerve innervates the adductor brevis muscle, with contributions 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 its branch, the artery for the adductors. It can also receive partial blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral and obturator artery. The venous blood from this region is drained by the deep femoral vein, which empties into the femoral vein.
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Gracilis
The gracilis is a long, slender, and thin muscle located in the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. It is a part of the adductor muscle group, which also includes the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and pectineus muscles. The gracilis is the most superficial muscle in the adductor group, and it is the only hip adductor that crosses and acts on two joints: the hip and knee.
The gracilis muscle originates in the pelvis, extending from the coxal bone to the tibia. It is innervated by the obturator nerve, a branch of the lumbar plexus that arises from the L2-L4 spinal nerves. The gracilis receives most of its blood supply from the "artery to the adductors," a branch of the deep femoral artery. This artery enters the gracilis through its lateral surface, approximately one-third away from its origin. The gracilis also receives a small amount of blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral artery.
The gracilis muscle plays a crucial role in several movements. It helps with hip adduction, knee flexion, and knee internal rotation. This muscle is particularly important for maintaining balance while walking. The gracilis is prone to strain injuries, especially in high-impact sports such as soccer, hockey, and basketball. These injuries can lead to adductor tendinopathy and groin strain.
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Pectineus
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle, situated at the anterior (front) part of the upper and medial (inner) aspect of the thigh. It is the most anterior adductor of the hip. The muscle's primary action is hip flexion, and it also produces adduction and external rotation of the hip.
The pectineus muscle arises from the pectineal line of the pubis and, to a small 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, to be inserted into the pectineal line of the femur, which leads from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera. The muscle then slides over the superior margin of the superior pubic ramus and courses posterolaterally down the thigh, sometimes being partially divided into a larger anterior (superficial) layer and a smaller posterior (deep) layer.
The pectineus is considered a transitional muscle between the anterior thigh and medial thigh due to its innervation by the femoral nerve (L2 and L3) and, in some cases, by the obturator nerve. The femoral nerve is always present and is the greater nerve, providing the sole innervation for the pectineus muscle in over 90% of cases. The muscle is also innervated by the accessory obturator nerve in 8.7% of cases.
The pectineus 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 can become injured by overstretching, such as stretching the leg too far out to the side or front of the body, or by rapid movements like kicking or sprinting.
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Frequently asked questions
Adductor muscles are muscles that draw a body part toward its median line or toward the axis of an extremity.
The hip adductors are a group of five muscles located in the medial compartment of the thigh: the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus.
The adductors are responsible for bringing the legs inwards toward each other and stabilizing the pelvis during activities such as walking, running, sprinting, accelerating, and jumping.
