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The adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh, which are responsible for bringing the thighs together. The adductor muscles originate on the pubis and ischium bones and insert on the femur. The five muscles that make up the adductor group are the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. These muscles are prone to strains and tears caused by overuse or sudden movements, and they play a crucial role in the lower body's adduction, stabilization, and balance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Adductor muscles group | 5 muscles: Adductor longus, Adductor brevis, Adductor magnus, Gracilis, and Pectineus |
| Location | Medial compartment of the thigh |
| Function | Bringing the thighs together (called adduction) |
| Origin | Pubis and ischium bones |
| Insertion | Femur, with gracilis attaching to the tibia |
| Innervation | Obturator nerve, except for a small part of adductor magnus innervated by the tibial nerve and pectineus innervated by the femoral nerve |
| Susceptibility to strain | Prone to strains and tears due to overuse, sudden movements, or muscular imbalances |
| Common injuries | Adductor strains (groin strains), especially in athletes |
| Surgical procedures | Adductor tenotomy (cutting origin tendons) and obturator neurectomy (cutting anterior branch of obturator nerve) performed in some cases of cerebral palsy |
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What You'll Learn
Adductor longus
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are primarily used for bringing the thighs together. Adductor longus is one of the five hip adductor muscles, along with adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and obturator externus. This large fan-shaped muscle is situated most anteriorly of this group and covers the middle part of the adductor magnus and the anterior part of the adductor brevis. The adductor longus is a large, flat muscle that forms the medial border of the femoral triangle and provides some medial rotation. It 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 plays a role in external/lateral rotation and flexion of the thigh. It helps to stabilise the pelvis in a standing position and aids in balancing the body on the lower limb during walking. The main actions of the adductor longus are to adduct and externally rotate the thigh; it can also produce some degree of flexion/anteversion. The adductor longus muscle is derived from the myotome of spinal roots L2, L3, and L4. The obturator nerve supplies the adductor longus muscle, along with the other adductor muscles (except for a small part of the adductor magnus, which is supplied by the tibial nerve).
The adductor longus muscle is located deep within the body and can be difficult to access for medical procedures. Adductor tendinopathy is a common injury affecting the adductor longus muscle, causing medial leg and groin pain, especially among athletes. It is often caused by sudden changes in direction, creating a quick adduction against a large abduction force, and is common in sports such as soccer, ice skating, and karate. An early assessment is crucial to prevent it from becoming a career-threatening injury for athletes.
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Adductor brevis
Adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that are primarily used for bringing the thighs together (called adduction). The adductor brevis is one of the five primary hip adductor muscles, along with the adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. The adductor brevis is a short, flat, triangular muscle found in the inner thigh, running from the pubis to the medial aspect of the femur. It is one of the weakest adductors of the thigh due to its short length.
The adductor brevis muscle has a relatively narrow origin located 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 runs towards its insertion on the femur. The muscle inserts via an aponeurosis on the superior half of the medial lip of the linea aspera, with the insertion continuing halfway down an imaginary line between the lesser trochanter and linea aspera. This wide 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 adductor brevis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises 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 be partially supplied by 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.
The adductor brevis muscle is primarily responsible for the adduction of the thigh, especially when the thigh is flexed or during the gait cycle. It also plays a role in the external rotation and flexion of the hip. All adductors of the thigh help to maintain balance and shift the centre of gravity onto the supporting foot while standing and walking by pulling the leg medially.
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Adductor magnus
The adductor magnus has 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 passes obliquely and almost horizontally to insert at the upper part of the linea aspera. The ischiocondylar part forms a thick medial margin that descends almost vertically 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 also has an adductor segment and a hamstring segment. The adductor segment comprises approximately 70% of the adductor magnus muscle. The hamstring segment is so named due to its similarity in structure, proximal attachment, and innervation to the hamstring muscles. It is innervated by the tibial portion of the sciatic nerve (L4). Both the adductor and hamstring portions of the adductor magnus work together during the gait cycle and control the pelvis for posture. The adductor portion also flexes the thigh, while the hamstring portion extends the thigh.
The adductor magnus is a dynamic stabiliser of the pelvis and femur, and is also a prime mover of the femur into adduction. It functions similarly 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 hip extension moment arm length of the adductor magnus changes with the hip angle, and it is a more effective hip extensor than the hamstrings or gluteus maximus when the hip is flexed.
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Gracilis
The gracilis muscle is a long, thin, flat muscle that is located in the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. It is the most superficial of the hip adductors, overlying the other four muscles in the group: the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and pectineus muscles. The gracilis is also the weakest of the adductor muscles.
The gracilis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, a branch of the lumbar plexus, which arises from the L2-L3 spinal nerves. It receives most of its vascular supply from the 'artery to the adductors', a branch of the deep femoral artery. The gracilis muscle is also supplied by a minor branch of the femoral artery and, in its proximal portion, by the medial circumflex femoral artery.
The gracilis muscle extends from the coxal bone to the tibia. It is the only hip adductor that crosses and acts on two joints: the hip and knee. The muscle fibres blend into a tendon that passes the medial condyle of the femur and attaches to the medial surface of the proximal tibia, joining the pes anserinus. The pes anserinus is a conjoined tendon comprising the tendons of three muscles: the gracilis, sartorius, and semitendinosus.
The gracilis muscle is responsible for several movements, including thigh adduction and flexion, leg flexion, and medial (internal) rotation. These movements are important for maintaining balance while walking. The gracilis is prone to strain injuries, particularly in athletes who participate in high-impact sports such as soccer, hockey, football, and basketball.
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Pectineus
The pectineus muscle is a flat quadrangular muscle situated in the upper portion of the thigh. It is a part of the group of muscles known as the adductor muscles, which are located in the inner thigh and aid in balance and alignment. The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor of the hip. It is the only adductor muscle that is innervated by the femoral nerve, with the exception of 20% of the population where a branch of the obturator nerve called the accessory obturator nerve is also involved. The femoral nerve is always present and provides the sole innervation for the pectineus muscle in over 90% of cases.
The pectineus muscle originates from the pectineal line of the pubic bone and inserts into the pectineal line of the femur, or thigh bone. It is considered a transitional muscle between the anterior thigh and medial thigh due to its innervation. The anterior surface of the pectineus muscle is covered with a deep layer of connective tissue, known as the fascia lata, which separates the muscle from the femoral artery, femoral vein, and great saphenous vein. The obturator externus and adductor brevis, the obturator artery and vein are located posterior to the pectineus.
The pectineus muscle functions to flex and adduct the thigh at the hip joint when it contracts. Its primary action is hip flexion, and it also produces adduction and external rotation of the hip. Activities that use this muscle include running, skating, kicking a soccer ball, and playing basketball. The pectineus muscle can become injured by overstretching, such as stretching a leg or legs too far out to the side or front of the body, or by rapid movements like kicking or sprinting. The most common symptom of an injured pectineus muscle is pain, along with bruising, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness in the inner part of the thigh.
The main blood supply to the pectineus muscle consists of the medial circumflex femoral artery, along with the femoral and obturator arteries. The medial circumflex femoral artery supplies the superficial part of the muscle, while the anterior branch of the obturator artery supplies the deep part.
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Frequently asked questions
The adductor muscles are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. They connect from the pelvis to the inside of the thigh bone (femur) and the top inside of the shin bone (tibia).
The five adductor muscles are the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus.
The adductor muscles are responsible for bringing the thighs together (called adduction), as well as assisting in hip flexion and contributing to the stability of the hip joint and pelvis.
