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Adductor Magnus

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Original Author(s): Oliver Jones
Last updated: October 25, 2022
Revisions: 6

Original Author(s): Oliver Jones
Last updated: October 25, 2022
Revisions: 6

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The adductor magnus is a muscle of the medial compartment of the thigh. It is the largest muscle within this compartment and is comprised of two parts – an adductor component and a hamstring component.

  • Attachments
    • 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).
  • Blood Supply: Obturator artery, profunda femoris artery and medial circumflex femoral artery

Fig 1 – Muscles of the medial thigh. The overlying muscles in the anterior compartment have been removed.

Fig 2 – Cross section of the inferior thigh, showing some of the medial thigh muscles. The adductor brevis and obturator externus attach superiorly in the thigh, and so are not visible in this cross-section.