Muscles Of The Medial Compartment Of The Thigh

Question 1

What are the muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh?

Answer 1

Gracilis, obturator externus, adductor brevis, adductor longus and adductor magnus.

Question 2

Innervation of the medial thigh muscles.

Answer 2

Obturator nerve, which arises from the lumbar plexus.

Question 3

Arterial supply of the medial thigh muscles.

Answer 3

Obturator artery

Question 4

Adductor Magnus

Answer 4

The adductor magnus is the largest muscle in the medial compartment. It lies posteriorly to the other muscles.

Functionally, the muscle can be divided into two parts; the adductor part, and the hamstring part.

Question 5

Adductor Magnus attachments

Answer 5

Adductor part – Originates from the inferior rami of the pubis and the rami of ischium, attaching to the linea aspera of the femur.
Hamstring part – Originates from the ischial tuberosity and attaches to the adductor tubercle and medial supracondylar line of the femur.

Question 6

Adductor Magnus actions

Answer 6

They both adduct the thigh. The adductor component also flexes the thigh, with the hamstring portion extending the thigh.

Question 7

Adductor Magnus innervation

Answer 7

Adductor part is innervated by the obturator nerve (L2-L4), the hamstring part is innervated by the tibial component of the sciatic nerve (L4-S3).

Question 8

Which muscle forms the medial border of the femoral triangle?

Answer 8

Adductor Longus

Question 9

Adductor Longus Attachments

Answer 9

Originates from the pubis, and expands into a fan shape, attaching broadly to the linea aspera of the femur.

Question 10

Adductor Longus Actions

Answer 10

Adduction of the thigh.

Question 11

Adductor Longus Innervation

Answer 11

Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

Question 12

The adductor brevis lies in between the anterior and posterior divisions.

Answer 12

Obturator nerve

Question 13

Adductor Brevis Attachments

Answer 13

Originates from the body of pubis and inferior pubic rami. It attaches to the linea aspera on the posterior surface of the femur, proximal to the adductor longus.

Question 14

Adductor Brevis Actions

Answer 14

Adduction of the thigh.

Question 15

Adductor Brevis Innervation

Answer 15

Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

Question 16

Obturator Externus Attachments

Answer 16

It originates from the membrane of the obturator foramen, and adjacent bone. It passes under the neck of femur, attaching to the posterior aspect of the greater trochanter.

Question 17

Obturator Externus Actions

Answer 17

Adduction and lateral rotation of the thigh.

Question 18

Obturator Externus Innervation

Answer 18

Obturator nerve (L2-L4).

Question 19

Gracilis Attachments

Answer 19

It originates from the inferior rami of the pubis, and the body of the pubis. Descending almost vertically down the leg, it attaches to the medial surface of the tibia, between the tendons of the sartorius (anteriorly) and the semitendinosus (posteriorly).

Question 20

Gracilis Actions

Answer 20

Adduction of the thigh at the hip, and flexion of the leg at the knee.

Question 21

Gracilis Innervation

Answer 21

Obturator nerve (L2-L4).