What are the medial thigh muscles and what is their primary function?

The medial thigh muscles are the adductor muscles, arranged in three layers. Their primary function is to adduct the thigh at the hip joint, pulling it toward the midline of the body.

How are the medial thigh muscles organized into layers?

The medial thigh muscles are organized into three layers: the superficial layer includes Pectineus, Adductor longus, and Gracilis; the middle layer is Adductor brevis; and the deep layer is Adductor magnus.

What nerves innervate the medial thigh muscles?

Most medial thigh muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve. Exceptions are the Pectineus, which has dual supply from the femoral and obturator nerves, and the hamstring part of adductor magnus, innervated by the tibial division of the sciatic nerve.

What is the clinical significance of the adductor longus muscle?

The adductor longus muscle is clinically notable because its tendon may calcify in activities like horse riding, forming a condition known as "rider’s bone", which can cause pain and reduced mobility.

What are the actions of the gracilis muscle?

The gracilis muscle adducts the thigh, flexes the knee, and medially rotates the leg. It inserts on the upper medial surface of the tibia.

How is the adductor magnus muscle structured and what are its parts?

The adductor magnus is a composite muscle with two parts: the adductor part, which adducts and medially rotates the thigh and is innervated by the obturator nerve, and the hamstring part, which weakly extends the thigh and is innervated by the sciatic nerve.

What is the obturator externus muscle and how does it relate to the medial thigh muscles?

The obturator externus is not a true adductor but is closely associated with the medial thigh muscles. It originates from the obturator membrane, inserts on the femur, and laterally rotates the thigh, innervated by the obturator nerve.

Medial Thigh Muscles – Adductor Group Anatomy

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