Adductor group
The adductor muscle group is located on the medial side of the thigh. The main function of this muscle group is adduction of the thigh.
Anatomy
The adductor muscles of the thigh are located medial to the femur and serve mainly for adduction. The origins of the muscles extend from the ramus inferior of the pubis to the tuber ischiadicum. The insertions begin at the lesser trochanter and extend to the medial inferior border of the femur and the ventral aspect of the tibia. Thereby, the attachments run along the dorsal surface of the femur.
Musculus pectineus
Musculus adductor longus and
Musculus adductor brevis
The pectineus muscle is located on the medial side of the thigh. It originates at the eminentia iliopubica along the pecten ossis pubis of the pubis to the tuberculum pubicum. The insertion is at the linea pectine and the linea aspera of the femur.
Musculus adductor longus
and Musculus gracilis
The adductor longus muscle is located on the inner side of the thigh. Its origin lies at the Os pubis between the Symphysis pubica and the Crista pubica. Following its oblique course, it attaches to the linea aspera in the middle part of the femur. A few fibers extend to the membrana vastoadductoria. The membrana vastoadductoria separates the adductor group from the extensor group.
Musculus adductor brevis
The small-surface origin of the adductor brevis muscle is located at the anterior edge of the lower and upper branch of the pubic bone (Os pubis). It is located between the origin of the gracilis muscle and the obturator externus muscle. These muscle fibers have a lateral, dorsal and also caudal course to its insertion at the linea aspera. The insertion lies over an aponeurosis in the upper third of the femur.
Musculus adductor magnus
The adductor magnus muscle arises from the ramus inferior to the pubic bone to the tuber ischiadicum. The part that originates at the pubic bone is also called the adductor minimus muscle. The proximal fibers insert at the lambium mediale of the linea aspera. The attachment of the distal fibers is at the linea supracondylaris medialis as well as the tuberculum adductorium of the epicondylus medialis. This creates a reed, the hiatus adductorius, between the two attachments. The adductor magnus muscle, together with the vastus meialis muscle and the adductor longus muscle, forms the adductor canal (canalis adductorius). The femoral artery and the femoral vein pass through this canal.
Musculus adductor minimus
The adductor minimus muscle is a small flat muscle. It is an incomplete splitting of the adductor muscle in the upper part of the muscle. The fibers of the adductor minimus muscle cross with the fibers of the adductor magnus muscle in the upper part. It originates at the pubic bone and draws to its insertion above the linea aspera on the femur.
Musculus gracilis
The gracilis muscle is the most superficial muscle on the medial side of the thigh. The origin lies over a thin aponeurosis on the lower branch of the Os pubis as well as on the pelvic symphysis. The area of origin is medial to the origin of the adductor brevis muscle. The muscle fibers of the gracilis muscle run steeply vertically downward and terminate in a round attachment tendon. This attaches medially to the tibial tuberosity in the superficial pes ansernus. The tendon of the sartorius muscle and the semitendinosus muscle also attach at this point. Some other fibers of the gracilis muscle extend into the deep leg fascia.
Innervation
The pectineus muscle has a double innervation by the obturator nerve and the femoral nerve (L2-L4). The anterior branch of the obturator nerve innervates the adductor longus muscle. The adductor brevis muscle is also innervated by the obturator nerve (L2-L4). Thereby, the ramus posterior of the obturator nerve (L2-L4) innervates the adddcutor magnuns muscle and is supported by the dorsal part of the tibial nerve (L4-L5). The obturator nerve also innervates the adductor minimus muscle and the gracilis muscle.
Function
The main task of the adductor group is addcution. The pectineus muscle performs adduction, external rotation and slight flexion. Furthermore, it also provides stabilization in the frontal and sagittal planes of the pelvis. In addition to adduction, the adductor longus muscle also supports external rotation and flexion of the thigh. The fibers of the adductor longus muscle that draw to the vastoadductor membrane serve to support internal rotation of the thigh. Adduction and flexion are performed in the hip joint by the adductor brevis muscle. If there is flexion over 80°, the adductor brevis muscle also performs an extension movement. The adductor magnus muscle mainly performs adduction of the thigh. The proximal part of the muscle additionally supports external rotation. In a flexed, externally rotated position of the leg, the distal part can cause internal rotation of the femur. Support for extension in the hip joint is also provided by the distal part of the adductor magnus muscle. The adductor minimus muscle is used for adduction and external rotation of the thigh. In the hip joint, adduction and flexion is performed by the gracilis muscle. In the knee joint, flexion and internal rotation is performed by this muscle.
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