Medial Thigh Muscles Flashcards
Adductors of the thigh (crossing the thigh over the midline)
Adductor longus Adductor brevis Adductor magnus Gracilis Obturator externus
Actions of adductor muscles
- Main action: pull thigh medially, toward or past median plane
- Stabilize stance when standing on both feet
- Correct a lateral sway of the trunk
- Control when there is side-to-side shift on standing surface (rocking boat)
- Kicking with medial side of foot in soccer
What do the adductor muscles contribute to
Contribute to flexion of the extended thigh.
Contribute to extension of the flexed thigh.
Occurs during running or when against resistance.
Adductor longus main action
Adduct thigh
Adductor brevis main action
Adducts thigh; flexes thigh to some extent
Adductor magnus has 2 parts: what are they
Adductor part (flexes thigh) Hamstring part (extends thigh)
Adductor magnus main actions
Adduct thigh
Adductor part: flexes thigh
Hamstring part: extends thigh
Gracilis main action
Adducts thigh
Flexes leg
Helps rotate leg medially
Obturator externus main action
Laterally rotates thigh
Steadies head of femur in acetabulum
What is the weakest member of the adductors and what is special about it
Gracilis! It is the only adductor to cross 2 joints: knee and hip joint.
The gracilis, semitendinosus, and sartorius have a common insertion at the ___ ?
Pes anserinus (goose foot), a common tendinous insertion.
What is the strongest member of the adductors?
Adductor magnus. It is the most posterior part (gracilis is the most superficial)
Which muscle from the anterior thigh also adducts the hip?
The pectineus.
The gracilis also helps to do what kind of action at the knee?
Helps to do knee flexion. Sartorius also helps to do knee flexion too.
