Adductor brevis

At a glance

English

Adductor brevis

Latin (TA2)

Adductor brevis

System

Muscle

Region

Lower limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the adductor brevis

Adductor brevis belongs to the medial, or adductor, group of thigh muscles. It sits in the middle layer of the group: pectineus and adductor longus lie in front of it, and adductor magnus behind. It is roughly triangular, narrow where it starts on the pubis and wider where it reaches the femur.

Its fibres arise from the outer face of the pubic body and inferior pubic ramus, between the origins of gracilis and obturator externus. They fan out downwards, backwards and outwards and attach to the line running from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera and to the top of the linea aspera itself, just lateral to pectineus and above the attachment of adductor longus.

The muscle is a useful landmark because the obturator nerve splits around it. The anterior division passes in front of it, between it and adductor longus, and the posterior division behind it, between it and adductor magnus. Both divisions supply it, and branches of the obturator artery and vein follow the same planes. Near its insertion it is pierced by a perforating branch of the deep femoral artery. Laterally it touches obturator externus and the iliopsoas tendon; medially, gracilis and adductor magnus.

Its main action is to draw the thigh inwards, and it also helps flex the hip. Whether it turns the femur inwards or outwards depends on the hip's position. With the other adductors, it steadies the pelvis on the thighs when a person stands on both feet or balances on a moving surface, presses the knees together, as in riding, and helps swing the leg across, as in a side-foot kick. Groin strains in sport often involve the adductors, though adductor longus is injured more often than this deeper muscle.

Attachments, action and supply

Origin

Outer surface of the pubic body and inferior pubic ramus, between gracilis and obturator externus.

Insertion

Line from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera, and the top of the linea aspera.

Action

Adducts the thigh and helps flex the hip; with the other adductors, steadies the pelvis.

Nerve supply

Obturator nerve, both divisions (L2, L3, L4).

Blood supply

Obturator artery, medial circumflex femoral artery and perforating branches of the deep femoral artery.