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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. The primary hip adductors are the pectineus, adductor longus, gracilis, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus. These muscles also have secondary functions, including hip flexion and rotation. The adductor longus, in particular, is the most frequently injured muscle in athletes, often resulting in groin pain. Adductor brevis, the shortest of the adductors, also contributes to the flexion of the hip, while some studies suggest it may be involved in the external rotation of the thigh.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Hip Adductor Muscles | 5 |
| Names of Hip Adductor Muscles | Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, pectineus |
| Muscle Shape | Triangular, fan-shaped, quadrangular |
| Muscle Size | Short, massive |
| Muscle Placement | Medial compartment of the thigh |
| Muscle Innervation | Obturator nerve (L2-L4) |
| Muscle Blood Supply | Femoral and obturator arteries |
| Muscle Function | Adduction of the thigh at the hip joint, flexion of the hip joint, extension of the thigh, internal (medial) rotation of the thigh |
| Muscle Injuries | Groin injury, spastic quadriparesis, osteoarthritis of the hip, hip luxation |
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What You'll Learn
Adductor longus
The adductor longus is a large, fan-shaped muscle located in the medial aspect of the thigh. It is one of the five hip adductor muscles, alongside the adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. These muscles are responsible for pulling the thigh towards or past the median plane, a movement known as adduction.
The adductor longus is triangular in shape and forms the floor of the femoral triangle and adductor canal. It originates from the anterior surface of the body of the pubis, specifically inferior to the pubic crest and lateral to the pubic symphysis. The muscle fibres then course downwards and laterally, inserting onto the middle third of the medial lip of the linea aspera. This insertion point is located between the insertion of the adductor magnus and the origin of the vastus medialis muscle, and it sits inferior to the adductor brevis insertion.
The adductor longus is innervated by the anterior division of the obturator nerve (L2-L4). Its blood supply 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 proximal part of the muscle receives blood supply from the medial circumflex artery, a branch of the deep femoral artery.
The primary function of the adductor longus is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint. It also contributes to the external/lateral rotation and flexion of the thigh. Additionally, the adductor longus, along with the other hip adductors, helps to stabilise the pelvis during standing and aids in balancing the body on the lower limb while walking.
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Adductor brevis
The adductor brevis is a flat, triangular muscle found in the inner thigh. It is one of the shortest muscles in the group of hip adductors, which also includes the adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus muscles. These inner thigh muscles are responsible for producing movements of the hip joint, primarily thigh adduction, but they also play a role in flexion, internal and external rotation, and stabilisation of the pelvis while standing or walking.
The adductor brevis has a relatively 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 its 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, with the insertion 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 adductor brevis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus. Its blood supply typically comes from the deep femoral artery 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 is drained by the deep femoral vein, which follows the path of its artery before emptying into the femoral vein.
The main function of the adductor brevis muscle is the adduction of the thigh, particularly 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 pull the leg medially when walking, helping to maintain balance and shift the centre of gravity onto the supporting foot.
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Adductor magnus
The adductor magnus is a large, fan-shaped or 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, which also consists of the adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, and gracilis muscles. The adductor magnus occupies the majority of the medial portion of the thigh and is both a dynamic stabiliser of the pelvis and femur, as well as a prime mover of the femur into adduction.
The adductor magnus is a composite muscle, consisting of two parts: the adductor part and the ischiocondylar (hamstring) 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 to insert in a linear fashion 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 is a powerful adductor of the thigh, especially when the legs are moved from a wide-spread position to one in which the legs are parallel. The adductor magnus also contributes to the flexion of the thigh (adductor part) and extension of the thigh (hamstring part).
The adductor magnus is related to several neurovascular structures. On its anterior surface, it is related to the pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, femoral artery and vein, profunda artery and vein, and the posterior branches of the obturator artery, obturator vein, and obturator nerve. On its posterior surface, it is related to 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.
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Gracilis
The gracilis muscle is a long and slender muscle located in the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. It is the most superficial muscle of the medial thigh compartment, overlying the other hip adductors. It is also the weakest adductor. However, it acts as a strong flexor and internal (medial) rotator of the leg at the knee joint.
The gracilis muscle is a spiral unipennate muscle that assists with hip adduction, knee flexion, and knee internal rotation. It is the only muscle from this group that crosses two joints; the hip and the knee. It extends from the body of pubis and ischiopubic ramus to the medial surface of the proximal tibia (pes anserinus). The pes anserinus is also the attachment site of the Sartorius and Semitendinosus.
The gracilis muscle is widely used in reconstructive surgery (graciloplasty), either as a pedicled flap or as a free microsurgical flap. Both pedicled and free flaps can be muscular or musculocutaneous. As a pedicled flap, the gracilis muscle can be used in perineal and vaginal reconstruction, as well as in the coverage of the neurovascular bundle after vascular surgery. The gracilis microsurgical free flap is commonly used in the reconstruction of upper and lower limbs, in breast reconstruction, and in dynamic reconstruction.
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Pectineus
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle found in the superomedial part of the anterior 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 is considered a transitional muscle between the anterior thigh and medial thigh. This is due to its innervation by the femoral nerve (L2 and L3) and, in some cases, the obturator nerve. The pectineus is the only adductor muscle innervated by the femoral nerve.
The pectineus muscle arises from the pectineal line of the pubis and, to a lesser extent, 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 muscle lies in the same plane as, and medially to, the adductor longus. Laterally, it is related to the psoas major muscle and the medial circumflex femoral artery and vein. The anterior surface of the pectineus forms the medial part of the floor of the femoral triangle, along with the adductor longus. This surface is covered by a deep layer of fascia lata, which separates it from the femoral artery, femoral vein, and great saphenous vein.
The pectineus muscle can become injured through overstretching, such as stretching the leg too far out to the side or front of the body. Injuries can also occur during rapid movements like kicking or sprinting, changing directions while running, or even sitting with a leg crossed for too long. The most common symptom of an injured pectineus muscle is pain. Treatment for a pectineus injury involves protecting the injured muscle from further harm, minimising activities that use the muscle, and icing the injury to reduce swelling and pain.
The pectineus is one of the muscles located on the medial thigh, alongside four primary muscles: the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis. These muscles primarily function in hip adduction. Activities that use the pectineus muscle include running, skating, kicking a soccer ball, and playing basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Hip adductors are a group of muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh that bring the thighs together.
The hip adductors include the pectineus, adductor longus, gracilis, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus.
The adductor longus is a triangular muscle that is the most anteriorly placed muscle of the adductor group. Its main function is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint.
The adductor brevis is a short, triangular muscle and is the shortest of the adductors. Its main function is the adduction of the thigh, and it also has a role in the flexion of the hip.
The gracilis is the most medial and superficial muscle of the medial thigh compartment. It is the only muscle in the group that crosses the hip and knee joints. Its function is to adduct the thigh at the hip and flex the leg at the knee.
