The groin (adductor) muscle group is positioned at the front and inside portion of the thigh. For my anatomy buffs out there, anterior and medial. The majority are located medially.
Adductor is the technical term for “groin” muscles.
The adductors consist of these 5 muscles:
- Pectineus
- Adductor Longus
- Adductor Brevis
- Adductor Magnus
- Gracilis
In this article, I will share the exact origin, insertion, innervation, and action of each of these muscles.
If you’re currently dealing with a groin injury and wondering why it’s taking a long time to heal, you should consider checking out this article.
What is the function of the adductor (groin) muscles?
The primary action of the groin muscles is hip adduction.
Hip adduction is the action of bringing your legs together.
Some of the adductor muscles have multiple functions such as hip flexion or knee flexion, however, these are secondary functions.
How many adductor muscles are there?
There are five adductor muscles.
Pectineus
Proximal attachment (origin): Pubis; Superior Ramus
Distal attachment (insertion): Femur; Pectineal line
Innervation: Femoral Nerve (L2, L3)
Action: adduction
Adductor Longus
Proximal attachment (origin): Pubis; Body inferior to Pubic Crest
Distal attachment (insertion): Femure; Middle part of Linea Aspera
Innvervation: Anterior branch of the obrutator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Action: Hip adduction and weak flexion
Adductor Brevis
Proximal attachment (origin): Pubis; body and inferior ramus
Distal attachment (insertion): Femur; pectineal line and proximal part of the linea aspera
Innvervation: Anterior branch of Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Action: Hip adduction and weak flexion
Adductor Magnus
Proximal attachment (origin): Pubis and Ischium; Inferior Ramus and Ramus
Distal attachment (insertion): Femur; Gluteal Tuberosity, Linea Aspera, and Medial supracondylar line
Innvervation: Posterior branch of Obturator Nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Action: Hip adduction and hip flexion
Gracilis
Proximal attachment (origin): Pubis; body and inferior ramus
Distal attachment (insertion): Tibia; proximal medial surface
Innvervation: Obturator nerve (L2, L3)
Action: Hip adduction
Key Takeaways
- There are five adductor muscles
- Adductor muscles are the technical term for “groin muscles.”
- The adductor muscles perform hip adduction which is the action of bringing and squeezing the legs together. Said another way, it is the action of bringing the leg away from the body towards the midline of the body.
