Adductor magnus
Adductor magnus
- Latin synonym: Musculus adductor magnus
- Synonym: Adductor magnus muscle
Definition
Adductor magnus | |
Origin | Ischiopubic ramus, ischial tuberosity |
Insertion | Femur (gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, medial supracondylar line, adductor tubercle) |
Artery | Obturator artery |
Innervation | Posterior division of obturator nerve (adductor part) and sciatic nerve (hamstring part) |
Action | Adduction and medial rotation of hip, Extension of hip joint |
The adductor magnus is the largest and most powerful adductor in the medial compartment of the thigh.
Parts, Origins, and Insertions
The adductor magnus is a hybrid muscle with two distinct parts—the adductor (pubofemoral) part and the hamstring (ischiocondylar) part—that differ in origin, insertion, nerve supply, and function. Together, they form the deep muscular plane of the medial thigh and play a key role in adduction, extension, and stabilization of the hip.
Part | Origin | Insertion |
Gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, and medial supracondylar line of the femur | ||
Adductor tubercle on the medial condyle of the femur |
Nerve Supply
Adductor part: Obturator nerve (posterior division) — L2, L3, L4
Hamstring part: Tibial part of the sciatic nerve
This dual innervation highlights the adductor magnus muscle’s transitional nature between the medial and posterior compartments of the thigh.
Actions
Main action is to Adduct the thigh at the hip joint (both parts). In addition:
Adductor part: Assists in flexion and medial rotation of the thigh.
Hamstring part: Assists in extension of the thigh, acting synergistically with the hamstring muscles.
References
Drake, R. L., Vogl, A. W., & Mitchell, A. W. M. (2010). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (2nd ed., Chapter 6: Lower Limb, p. 566-568). Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
