Lower Limb - Medial Thigh Muscles (1) Flashcards
What is the basic function of the muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh?
Adduction.
Name the five muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh.
Adductor longus. Adductor brevis. Adductor magnus. Gracilis. Obturator externus.
What is the innervation to the large majority of the medial thigh muscles?
Obturator nerve.
What is the proximal attachment for pretty much all of the adductor muscles of the thigh?
Body of pubis and inferior ramus of pubis.
Which muscle is the most anterior of the adductors? Describe its shape and its distal attachment.
Adductor longus. A large fan-shaped muscle, attaching along the middle third of the linea aspera of the femur.
What is the distal attachment of adductor brevis?
The pectineal line (at the proximal part of the linea aspera of the femur).
What is special about the adductor brevis with regard to a nearby nerve?
The obturator nerve splits into an anterior and posterior division, which pass anterior and posterior to the adductor brevis.
Name the different parts of the adductor magnus.
Two parts: Adductor part, Hamstring part.
Which is the most powerful adductor muscle?
Adductor magnus.
Name and describe the distal attachment of gracilis.
At the superior part of medial surface of tibia. This attachment is called the “pes anserinus”, and it is the common tendinous insertion for the gracilis, sartorius, and semitendinosus.
Name the distal attachment of obturator externus.
Trochanteric fossa of femur (at greater trochanter, on the posterior/superior aspect).
Describe the distal attachments of adductor magnus.
Adductor part: all along the linea aspera of femur
Hamstring part: adductor tubercle of medial epicondyle of femur.
What is the adductor hiatus?
The adductor hiatus is an opening (gap) in the distal attachment of adductor magnus, with the bony femur forming one side of the adductor hiatus.
