Gracilis muscle
Musculus gracilis
- Related terms: Gracilis
Definition
Gracilis muscle (Muscle group: Medial compartment of thigh) | |
Origin | ischiopubic ramus |
Insertion | Tibia (pes anserinus) |
Artery | Medial femoral circumflex artery |
Innervation | Anterior division of obturator nerve |
Action | Hip flexion, knee flexion and medial rotation |
The gracilis is a long, thin, strap-like muscle located on the medial aspect of the thigh. It is the most superficial and medial of the adductor group of muscles.
Origin
The muscle fibres originate from the lower part of the body and the inferior ramus of the pubis, and a small part of the ischial ramus.
Insertion
The gracilis muscle descends along the medial side of the thigh, passing behind the medial condyle of the femur, curving around the medial condyle of the tibia, and flattens out, and gets inserted into the medial surface of the upper part of the tibia, just below the medial condyle. Here, it forms part of the pes anserinus (goose’s foot) along with tendons of sartorius and semitendinosus.
Nerve Supply
Actions
Adduction of the thigh at the hip joint
Flexion of the leg at the knee joint
Medial rotation of the flexed leg
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.
Khan IA, Bordoni B, Varacallo MA. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Thigh Gracilis Muscle. [Updated 2023 Apr 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538229/
