Muscles of the Medial Thigh

The muscles of the medial thigh region can be described as:

1. Adductor longus

   • This muscle originates on the body of the pubis and inserts on the middle third of the linea aspera of the femur

   • This muscle acts to adduct at the hip joint

2. Adductor brevis

   • This muscle originates on the ischiopubic ramus of the pubis and inserts on the upper third of the linea aspera of the femur

   • This muscle act to adduct at the hip joint

3. Adductor magnus

   • This muscle originates on the ischiopubic ramus of the pubis and attaches on the linea aspera of the femur, and the medial supracondylar line

   • This muscle acts to adduct at the hip joint

4. Gracilis

   • This muscle originates on the ischiopubic ramus of the pubis and attaches to the pes anserinus of the tibia

   • This muscle acts to flex at the hip and knee joints

5. Obturator externus

   • This muscle originates of the obturator membrane and attaches to the trochanteric fossa

   • This muscle acts to laterally rotate at the hip joint

Clinical Notes:

1. The adductor canal is the distal continuation of the femoral triangle. It provides passage for the femoral artery, vein, and nerve. It is bound anterolaterally by the vastus medialis, posteriorly by the adductor longus and magnus, and medially by the sartorius muscles. Vessels pass from the adductor canal to the popliteal fossa through the adductor hiatus which is a gap between the aponeurotic adductor and tendinous hamstring attachments of the adductor magnus muscle.