Adductor Magnus - 1 of 5 Leg Adductors

 This is the last of the 5 Leg adductor muscles! 

ADDUCTOR MAGNUS aka "the 4th hamstring"

Why the 4th hamstring? Because your three hamstrings all originate from the same place on your pelvis: the ischial tuberosity. And one of the origins of Adductor Magnus is.....the ischial tuberosity (aka 'sits bone' - you know that bony bump you feel in each butt cheek when you sit? Or more obviously, when a child sits on your lap?)

 

Adductor Magnus is ALSO the only Adductor  muscle to ALSO perfom the muscle action of LEG EXTENSION - like it's friends the Hamstrings! (hamstrings coming soon to muscle monday!)

Muscle Attachment Points:

 Adductor Magnus has TWO points of origin ( aka two 'heads' - holy magnus! One origin is more anterior - closer to front of thigh - and one is more posterior) and TWO points of insertion on the femur (thigh bone)

 Origin:  anterior head:  inferior ramus* of pubis, and the ramus of ischium 

(see the pink area of the pelvis above - the first image)

post head: ischial tuberosity (see yellow area on pelvis - aka sits bone!)

Insertion:  anterior head: gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera & the medial supracondylar line of the femur ((all fancy for 'various bony lines and bony bump on the inner thigh bone))

posterior head:  adductor tubercle* of the femur


 *In Latin ramus refers to a branch. For example the ramus of pubis is the branch (extension) of the pubic bone.

* tubercle just means bony bump where muscle attaches 

Adductor Magnus Muscle Action (s):

Adduction of the thigh/leg at the hip joint

Extension of the the thigh/leg at the hip joint

We all know Adduction now right? (bring the leg toward/across the midline of the body) :

And here is Extension:

 

And that's all the ADDUCTORS!!!

The other Hip/Leg Adductors are: Pectineus, Gracilis, Adductor Longus, and Adductor Brevis.

Moving on down the leg! Can't decide between quads or hams - stayyyyy tuned!

Adductor Brevis (1 of 5 Leg Adductors)

We're back with another Leg Adductor Muscle: Adductor Brevis

Adductor refers to the action of leg 'adduction' (see below!)

Brevis means short (remember Adductor Longus?)

Muscle Attachment Points

Origin:  inferior ramus of pubis (lower pelvis)

Insertion: Pectineal line and medial lip of linea aspera (on the femur/inside of thigh)

If you look at all the adductor leg muscles together, brevis is hiding underneath - that lil' brevis!

Muscle Action(s):

a) Adduction of the thigh @ the hip joint

b) Flexion

of the thigh at the hip joint

ADDUCTION is to bring the leg towards (and/or across) the mid-line of the body.

HIP FLEXION: knee towards chest

The other Hip/Leg Adductors are: Pectineus, Gracilis, Adductor Longus, and our final one is next week: Adductor Magnus. Have a great week !

Pectinius (1 of 5 Adductor Muscles)

We're back with another Hip/Leg ADDUCTOR! 

And its name is PECTINEUS and it lives on the front inner thigh - close the groin.
Pectineus is shorter than the other adductors.
The leg adductors all live close to the inner thigh/groin area so are often referred to as 'groin muscles'.

I remember hearing about 'torn/pulled groins' in hockey for example and remember being confused like WHAT is a groin muscle! and does it have anything to do with the penis (no, no it doesn't)
Live n' Learn!

Muscle Attachment(s):
  Origin: Pectineal line of the pubis

Insertion: Pectineal line of the femur

Muscle Action(s):

a) Adduction of the thigh @ the hip joint

b) Flexion

of the thigh at the hip joint

ADDUCTION is to bring the leg towards (and/or across) the mid-line of the body.

HIP FLEXION: knee towards chest

The OTHER Adductors are: Gracilis, Adductor Longus,  Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus

Gracilis: 1 of 5 Leg Adductor Muscles

We're back with another leg Adductor Muscle also known as one of your groin muscles: Gracilis!
The other Adductor Muscles are: Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus, & Pectinius!

Muscle Attachments

Origin: Anterior body and the inferior ramus of pubis 

Insertion: Pes Anserine Tendon (insertion) *

Muscle Action(s) :

Adduction of the thigh @ the hip joint
Also:

Flexion of the thigh @ the hip joint
Medial Rotation of the thigh @ the hip joint

And:

Flexion of the leg @ the knee joint

the above image shows hip AND knee flexion.

*pes anserine insertion in an area just below knee - onto the tibia (lower leg bone)

Three muscles attach to the Pes Anserine Tendon : Gracilis, Sartorius, & SemiTendonosis 

(one of the hamstrings - yet to be covered!)

Pes Anserine actually roots back to the word "goose foot" because of three-pronged display of these 3 muscle tendons inserting!

Adductor Longus - 1 of 5 Leg adductor muscles

Adductor: this muscle performs the action of Adduction.

Longus: there is most likely a shorter version of this muscle ;) 'brevis'

There are five muscles that adduct the leg. Adduction is the opposite of aBduction - which means to take a limb away from the midline (center) of the body. Abduct = takeaway.

So Adduction means to take the limb towards/across the midline of the body.

Adductor Longus attachment points:

Origin: Anterior body of pubis*

Insertion: Middle 1/3 of the linea aspera of the femur*

*this red area shows the linea aspera of the femur.

 *pubis bone is at the front of the pelvis, where the two hip bones meet. 

both bone images c/o wikipedia

 Muscle Actions:

Adduction of thigh @ the hip joint

Flexion of the thigh @ the hip joint

The OTHER Adductors are: Gracilis, Pectinius,  Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus

Stay tuned as we cover the remaining thigh adductors over the next few weeks :)