Adduktorer

Adduktorer, or adductor muscles, form the medial compartment of the thigh and are primarily responsible for adduction of the thigh at the hip joint. They also aid in flexion or extension of the hip depending on the part of the muscle and the hip position. The group typically includes the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. The obturator externus is sometimes included in discussions of the adductor group, but is commonly described as a separate muscle.

Anatomy and insertion

- Adductor longus originates from the pubis near the pubic symphysis and inserts on the middle third of the linea aspera of the femur.

- Adductor brevis originates from the inferior pubic ramus and inserts on the proximal linea aspera.

- Adductor magnus has an adductor part from the inferior pubic ramus and ramus of the ischium, inserting along the linea aspera and, distally, at the adductor tubercle of the femur; its hamstring part extends to the adductor magnus’ tendon portions.

- Gracilis originates from the inferior pubic ramus and inserts on the pes anserine on the medial tibia.

- Pectineus originates from the pectineal line of the pubis and inserts on the femur between the lesser trochanter and the linea aspera.

Innervation and blood supply

The primary innervation for most adductors is the obturator nerve (L2–L4). The adductor part of the magnus is innervated by the obturator nerve, while its hamstring part is supplied by the tibial division of the sciatic nerve. The pectineus can receive fibers from the femoral nerve or obturator nerve, reflecting anatomical variation. Blood supply mainly comes from the obturator artery with contributions from the deep femoral (profunda femoris) arteries; venous drainage mirrors the arterial supply.

Function and clinical relevance

The adductors are the main medial stabilizers of the hip and are primary thigh adductors. They assist in hip flexion (anterior fibers) and hip extension (posterior fibers) and contribute to pelvic stability during gait. Clinically, they are a common source of groin strains in athletes and can be involved in tendinopathy or avulsion injuries at the origins or insertions. Differential diagnosis for medial thigh pain includes hip joint pathology and other musculoskeletal conditions.