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The hip adductors are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are responsible for bringing the thighs together, a movement known as adduction. There are five hip adductor muscles: pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis. These muscles also play a role in hip flexion and rotation, and their strength is important for maintaining lower body speed, agility, and strength. The adductor magnus, in particular, is the largest of the hip adductors and serves as a dynamic stabilizer of the pelvis and femur.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of muscles | 5 |
| Muscle names | Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, pectineus |
| Muscle type | Type I muscle fibre |
| Muscle function | Adduction of the thigh at the hip joint, flexion of the hip, internal rotation of the thigh |
| Innervation | Obturator nerve (L2-L4) |
| Blood supply | Femoral artery and obturator artery |
| Conditions | Hip adductor muscle pain, tightness, weakness, groin pain, groin strain, hip joint impingement, low back pain, knee pain |
| Treatments | Hip mobility techniques, gluteus medius activation exercises, adductor tenotomy, obturator neurectomy |
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What You'll Learn
Adductor longus
The adductor longus muscle is innervated by the anterior division of the obturator nerve (L2-L4). It receives its blood supply primarily from the deep femoral artery, a branch of the femoral artery, and also from the obturator artery, a branch of the internal iliac artery. The proximal part of the muscle is supplied by the medial circumflex artery, a branch of the deep femoral artery.
The main function of the adductor longus is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. Additionally, it contributes to the flexion of the extended thigh and the extension of the flexed thigh. It also plays a role in the external/lateral rotation of the thigh, although its contribution to internal (medial) rotation is still under discussion.
Adductor tendinopathy is a common injury associated with the adductor longus muscle, especially among athletes in sports such as soccer, football, and running, where sudden changes in direction can stress the tendon.
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Adductor brevis
The adductor brevis muscle originates from the anterior surface of the body of the pubis, with some fibres arising from the lateral surface of the inferior pubic ramus. It then widens into a triangular shape as it runs towards its insertion on the femur. The muscle inserts on the superior half of the medial lip of the linea aspera, located on the upper third of the femur. The insertion site is medial to that of the adductor magnus and lateral to the insertion of the pectineus muscle.
The adductor brevis muscle is innervated by the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus (L2-L4). The blood supply for this muscle typically comes from the deep femoral artery (profunda femoris) and its branch, the artery for the adductors. Additionally, it can receive partial blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral and obturator arteries. The venous blood from this region drains into the deep femoral vein, which empties into the femoral vein.
The primary function of the adductor brevis muscle is the adduction of the thigh, especially when the thigh is flexed during the gait cycle. It also plays a role in the external rotation and flexion of the hip. Along with the other adductors of the thigh, the adductor brevis helps to maintain balance and shift the centre of gravity onto the supporting foot while standing or walking.
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Adductor magnus
The adductor magnus is a large triangular muscle of the lower limb, with its apex situated on the hip bone and its base on the linea aspera of the femur. It is the largest and strongest muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh. The adductor magnus is a powerful adductor of the thigh, and is especially active when the legs are moved from a wide-spread position to one in which the legs are parallel.
The adductor magnus is a composite muscle, consisting of two parts: the adductor part and the ischiocondylar (hamstring) part. 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 adductor part is considered to be part of the medial thigh (adductor) compartment, while the hamstring part belongs to the posterior compartment of the thigh. The adductor part flexes the thigh and works as a medial rotator, while the hamstring part extends the thigh and is a lateral rotator. Both portions adduct the thigh.
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 in function to the deltoid muscle, with one portion flexing the thigh and the other extending it. 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 is a more effective hip extensor than the hamstrings or gluteus maximus when the hip is flexed.
The adductor magnus is the most commonly injured of the hip adductors. Adductor tendinopathy is a common cause of groin injury and pain among athletes, particularly male athletes.
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Gracilis
The gracilis muscle is one of the five hip adductor muscles located in the medial compartment of the thigh. It is the most superficial and medial of the hip adductors, crossing both the hip and knee joints. The gracilis muscle descends almost vertically down the leg and inserts on the medial tibia at the pes anserinus, where it meets the sartorius and semitendinosus muscles.
The gracilis muscle is innervated by the anterior branch of the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar spinal vertebrae. It receives its blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral artery, which enters the muscle about 10 cm from the pubic symphysis. The gracilis has a spiral arrangement of muscle fibres, with 5 to 7 muscle fibre bundle compartments. This unique structure allows for independent neuromuscular compartment function, enabling the gracilis to perform multiple roles.
The main functions of the gracilis muscle include hip adduction, hip flexion, hip internal rotation, knee flexion, and internal knee rotation. It is also prone to strain injuries, particularly in high-impact sports such as soccer, hockey, and basketball. These injuries can lead to adductor tendinopathy and groin strain.
In addition to its role in sports medicine, the gracilis muscle is commonly used in reconstructive surgery due to its versatility. It can be utilised as a pedicled flap or a free microsurgical flap in procedures such as breast reconstruction, upper and lower limb reconstruction, and dynamic reconstruction of facial paralysis. The gracilis muscle is also employed in the treatment of anal incontinence through a technique called graciloplasty, which involves transferring the gracilis muscle to restore function.
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Pectineus
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle, located in the medial compartment of the thigh. It is situated at the anterior (front) part of the upper and medial (inner) aspect of the thigh. The muscle's primary action is hip flexion, but it also produces adduction and external rotation of the hip.
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, the obturator nerve. It is the only adductor muscle innervated by the femoral nerve. The muscle originates from the pectineal line of the pubis and, to a lesser extent, from the surface of the bone in front of it. 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 pectineus muscle is a prime mover and a postural muscle, stabilising the pelvis and balancing the trunk on the lower extremity during walking. 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 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. Treatment of a pectineus muscle injury involves protecting the injured area, minimising activities that use the muscle, and icing the injury to decrease swelling and pain.
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Frequently asked questions
Hip adductors are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are responsible for bringing the thighs together and rotating the upper leg inwards.
There are five hip adductor muscles: pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis.
Adductor magnus is the largest of the hip adductors. It has two distinct parts: the adductor part and the ischiocondylar (hamstring) part. Its basic function is to adduct and medially rotate the thigh at the hip joint.
