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The great adductor muscle
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
The adductor magnus is a thick, triangular muscle. It originates on the ischial tuberosity, the branch of the ischium, and the inferior branch of the pubic bone. It is attached along the entire length of the medial lip of the rough line. It is located behind the short and long conducting muscles. The semitendinosus, semimembranosus muscles, and the long head of the biceps femoris are adjacent to it behind. The bundles of the proximal part of the muscle are oriented almost horizontally and pass from the pubic bone to the upper part of the body of the thigh. The bundles of the distal part of the muscle are directed vertically downwards - from the ischial tuberosity to the medial epicondyle of the femur. The tendon of the adductor magnus muscle, at the point of attachment to the adductor tubercle (tuberculum adductorium) of the femur, limits an opening called the tendon cleft (hiatus tendineus adductorius). Through this gap, the femoral artery passes from the adductor canal on the thigh into the popliteal fossa. The femoral vein lies next to the artery.
Function of the adductor magnus: is the strongest adductor muscle of the thigh; the medial bundles of the muscle, originating on the ischial tuberosity, also participate in hip extension.
Innervation of the adductor magnus muscle: obturator (LII-LIII) and sciatic (LIV-LV) nerves.
Blood supply of the adductor magnus muscle: obturator and perforating arteries.
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