Dominic Stone
The muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh are collectively known as the hip adductors. These muscles are responsible for moving the thigh or lower extremity closer to the body's central axis. They also help with balance and rotating the legs inward. There are four primary muscles in this group: adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis. The obturator externus muscle is also sometimes considered a hip adductor due to its role in adducting the thigh at the hip joint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle Group | Hip Adductors |
| Number of Muscles | 4 or 5 |
| Muscle Names | Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus, Gracilis, Pectineus |
| Muscle Shape | Flat, Long, Strap-like, Fan-shaped |
| Muscle Size | Adductor Magnus is the largest |
| Muscle Location | Medial Compartment of the Thigh |
| Innervation | Obturator Nerve (L2-L4) |
| Blood Supply | Obturator Artery |
| Vein Drainage | Obturator Vein |
| Function | Adduction, Hip Flexion, Knee Flexion, Hip Rotation |
| Injury | Groin Strain or Tendinopathy |
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What You'll Learn
The adductor longus muscle
The adductor longus is one of the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh, which are collectively known as the hip adductors. It is a large, flat, fan-shaped muscle located in the medial aspect of the thigh. It originates from the pubis bone of the pelvis and expands into a fan shape, attaching to the linea aspera of the femur.
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 proximal part of the muscle receives its blood supply from the medial circumflex artery, a branch of the deep femoral artery.
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The adductor brevis muscle
Injuries to the adductor brevis muscle can occur due to sudden changes in direction, creating a disproportional strain on the muscle, often exacerbated by inadequate warm-up and stretching routines. Adductor injuries are common in athletes and can be career-threatening, making early assessment and treatment essential.
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The adductor magnus muscle
The adductor magnus is the largest muscle in the medial compartment of the thigh. It is one of the six muscles of the medial compartment, which are collectively known as the hip adductors. The adductor magnus is made up of two parts: an adductor component and a hamstring component. The adductor component originates from the inferior rami of the pubis and the rami of the ischium, attaching to the linea aspera of the femur. The hamstring component originates on the ischial tuberosity and inserts distally on the adductor tubercle of the medial femoral condyle.
The adductor magnus is a powerful adductor of the thigh, responsible for moving the thigh closer to the body's central axis. It is particularly active when the legs are brought from a wide spread position to a parallel position. The adductor magnus also plays a role in thigh extension and internal rotation at the hip joint.
The medial part of the adductor magnus is sometimes referred to as the "hamstring part" due to its origin and insertion points, which enable hip extension upon contraction. The lateral part of the muscle is called the "adductor part" due to the orientation of fibres and attachments that enable thigh adduction upon contraction.
The adductor magnus is the most commonly injured muscle of the hip adductors. It is susceptible to strain, which can result in a "groin strain" injury.
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The gracilis muscle
Gracilis injuries, such as strains and tendinopathy, are common in athletes participating in high-impact sports that involve ballistic movements or stretching, such as soccer, hockey, and basketball. The gracilis muscle is also used in reconstructive surgery, particularly in gracilis microsurgical free flaps for the reconstruction of upper and lower limbs, breast reconstruction, and dynamic reconstruction of facial paralysis.
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The obturator externus muscle
The obturator externus has a dual primary function, which depends on the position of the thigh. When the hip is extended, the contraction of the obturator externus causes lateral, or external rotation of the thigh. This is particularly useful for climbing and is believed to play a role in walking, counteracting the medial rotation caused by the anterior adductors of the thigh. When the hip joint is flexed, the obturator externus abducts the thigh.
The obturator externus is located in the pelvis on the anterior aspect of the innominate bones. It covers the obturator foramen and is located deep to pectineus and superior parts of the adductors of the thigh. Its tendon lies deep to the quadratus femoris muscle and separates it from the neck of the femur. The obturator vessels (anterior and posterior branches of the obturator artery and vein) are found deep to the obturator externus muscle, on the external surface of the obturator membrane. The obturator externus is supplied by the anterior branch of the obturator artery and the medial circumflex femoral artery. These blood vessels form a variable pattern, meaning the muscle may receive blood supply from both or just one of these vessels.
The obturator externus is divided into a superior muscle fascicle and a main belly. The supernumerary muscle originates from the superior fascicle, while an anomalous fascicle, also derived from the external obturator, originates from the main belly.
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Frequently asked questions
The muscles that adduct the thigh are the gracilis, pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and adductor minimus. The obturator externus is also sometimes considered a hip adductor.
The hip adductors are the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. They are responsible for moving the thigh/lower extremity closer to the body's central axis.
The adductor muscles allow you to bring your thighs toward each other (adduction). They also help you stay balanced, keep your legs and hips in alignment, and allow rotation through your hips and legs.
The obturator nerve is responsible for innervating all the hip adductors. It arises from the lumbar plexus.
