Adductor magnus

The adductor magnus (Latin: musculus adductor magnus) is a large triangular-shaped thigh muscle. It is situated inferior to the adductor brevis and adductor longus muscles in the medial compartment and belongs to the thigh adductors. The adductor magnus is the largest and strongest muscle of the adductor group. It stretches between the pubis and ischium of the hip bone and femur. Besides being the strongest and largest adductor, it is also the most complex of all as the adductor magnus is composed of two parts - adductor (pubofemoral) and hamstring (ischiocondylar).

Origin

The adductor part of the adductor magnus arises from the ramus of the ischium and inferior ramus of the pubis, while the hamstring portion originates from the ischial tuberosity.

Insertion

The adductor portion inserts on the medial lip of the linea aspera, gluteal tuberosity and medial supracondylar line of the femur. The hamstring part of the muscle inserts on the adductor tubercle of the femur.

Action

The adductor part of the adductor magnus provides flexion, adduction and external rotation of the thigh at the hip joint. The hamstring portion extends the thigh and rotates it internally at the hip joint.

Innervation

The adductor part is innervated by the obturator nerve (L2 - L4) arising from the lumbar plexus, while the hamstring portion receives nerve supply from the tibial nerve of the sciatic nerve (L4).

Blood supply

The primary blood vessels supplying adductor magnus muscle are the obturator and deep femoral arteries. The first one arises from the internal iliac artery, while the latter is a branch of the femoral artery. The superior aspect of the muscle receives arterial blood supply also from the medial circumflex femoral artery - a branch of the deep femoral artery. Additionally, the inferior part of the muscle is also supplied by the femoral, popliteal and genicular arteries.