medial compartment of the thigh

Question 1

muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh, blood supply and innervation

Answer 1

The are collectively known as the hip adductors.

There are six muscles in this group; gracilis, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor longus,adductor magnus and pectineus

All the medial thigh muscles are innervated by the obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus. Arterial supply is through the obturator artery.

Question 2

The adductor magnus

Answer 2

It is comprised of two parts – an adductor component and a hamstring component.

Adductor – Originates from the inferior rami of the pubis and the rami of ischium, attaches to the linea aspera of the femur.
Hamstring part – Originates from the ischial tuberosity, attaches to the adductor tubercle and medial supracondylar line of the femur.
Actions:
Adductor – Adduction and flexion of the thigh
Hamstring – Adduction and extension of the thigh.
Innervation:
Adductor – Obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Hamstring part – Tibial component of the sciatic nerve (L4-S3).

Question 3

Adductor longus

Answer 3

The muscle forms the medial border of the femoral triangle.

Originates from the pubis bone of the pelvis and expands into a fan shape. It has a broad distal attachment along the linea aspera of the femur.
Actions: Adduction of the thigh.
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

Question 4

Adductor Brevis

Answer 4

Attachments: Originates from the body of pubis and inferior pubic rami.
Attaches to the linea aspera on the posterior surface of the femur (proximal to the adductor longus attachment).
Actions: Adduction of the thigh.
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

(It separates the anterior and posterior branches of the obturator nerve and is an important anatomical landmark within the medial thigh.)

Question 5

Obturator Externus

Answer 5

Originates from the membrane of the obturator foramen and adjacent bone. It passes under the neck of femur
It attaches onto the posterior aspect of the greater trochanter.
Actions: Adduction and lateral rotation of the thigh.
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

Question 6

Gracilis

Answer 6

It Originates from the inferior rami of the pubis and the body of the pubis. It descends down the medial aspect of the thigh
It attaches to the medial surface of the tibial shaft.
Actions: Adduction of the thigh at the hip and flexion of the leg at the knee.
Innervation: Obturator nerve (L2-L4).