Adductor Group
The adductor group consists of five muscles (adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, pectineus) on the medial thigh. They adduct the hip and are important for stability and lateral movements.
Origin, Insertion, Action, Innervation
OOrigin
Pubic bone (body and rami) and ischium (adductor magnus also from ischial tuberosity)
IInsertion
Linea aspera of femur (most adductors), medial tibia (gracilis), adductor tubercle (adductor magnus hamstring part)
AAction
- • Adduction of the hip (all muscles)
- • Flexion of the hip (anterior fibers)
- • Extension of the hip (adductor magnus hamstring part)
- • Medial rotation of the hip (most adductors)
NInnervation
Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4) primarily; adductor magnus also by sciatic nerve (tibial division)
Blood Supply
Obturator artery, medial circumflex femoral artery, profunda femoris branches
Clinical Relevance
Adductor strains ('groin pulls') are common in sports involving rapid direction changes. The adductor canal (subsartorial canal) contains the femoral vessels and saphenous nerve. Obturator nerve damage causes adductor weakness.
Palpation
Palpate on the medial thigh. Have the patient adduct the hip against resistance to feel the muscles contract.
Study Tips
- ✓Five muscles: Pectineus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Adductor Magnus, Gracilis
- ✓Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4) for most; sciatic also for magnus
- ✓Only gracilis crosses knee joint (to pes anserinus)
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Common questions about the adductor group
The five adductor muscles are: pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis. They occupy the medial compartment of the thigh and primarily adduct the hip.
A groin pull is a strain of the adductor muscles, commonly occurring in sports that involve sudden changes of direction, kicking, or stretching. The adductor longus is most frequently affected.
Most adductor muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4). The adductor magnus also receives innervation from the sciatic nerve (tibial division) to its hamstring portion.
Only the gracilis crosses the knee joint. It originates from the pubic bone and inserts on the upper medial tibia as part of the pes anserinus, along with the sartorius and semitendinosus.