Summary Adductor magnus Origin Inferior pubic ramus, ischial ramus, and inferolateral area of ischial tuberosity Insertion 2 separate insertions: 1) Gluteal tuberosity of femur, medial lip of linea aspera, medial supracondylar ridge, 2) Adductor tubercle Action Powerful thigh adductor; superior horizontal fibers also help flex the thigh, while vertical fibers help extend the thigh Innervation Posterior division of obturator nerve innervates most of the adductor magnus; Hamstring portion innervated by tibial nerve (L2, L3, L4) Arterial supply Medial circumflex femoral artery, inferior gluteal artery, 1st - 4th perforating arteries, obturator artery, and some superior muscular branches of popliteal artery Innervation Adductor magnus is innervated by the obturator nerve (L2-L4) - adductor part tibial nerve (L4-S3) - hamstring part Primary nerves of the anterior thigh obturator nerve origin L2-4 of lumbar plexus motor medial compartment of thigh adductor longus adductor brevis adductor magnus gracilis sensory cutaneous branch innervates skin of medial thigh course descends through psoas and emerges at medial border runs posterior to common iliac arteris to the obturator foamen enters thigh through obturator canal splits into anterior and posterior divisions anterior division - descends between adductor longus and brevis pierces fascia lata to become the cutaneous branch of obturator nerve posterior division - descends through obturator externus muscle passes anterior to adductor magnus and gives off branches to supply it tibial nerve Adductor magnus is supplied by the obturator artery femoral artery medial femoral circumflex direct and perforating branches of the deep femoral artery Obturator artery arises from internal iliac artery in pelvis bifurcates in medial thigh into two branches anterior branch - pectineus, obturator externus, adductor muscles and gracilis posterior branch - deep gluteal muscles Femoral artery branches in thigh profunda femoris direct and perforating branches medial femoral circumflex lateral femoral circumflex Cross section high thigh mid thigh low thigh Adductor magnus lies in the medial compartment of the thigh. medial thigh compartment consists of adductor brevis (obturator n.) adductor longus (obturator n.) adductor magnus (obturator n.) gracilis (obturator n.) adductor magnus is bordered by anterior pectineus adductor longus adductor brevis sartorius (anterior/medial) medial gracilis sartorius (anterior/medial) superior obturator externus quadratus femoris posterior surface semitendinosus semimembranosus biceps femoris gluteus maximus Relevant Surgical Approaches Hip Medial Approach Clinical Images Obturator nerve block used for management of post-op pain from lower limb surgery or for chronic hip pain