Adductor Magnus

Authors
Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Figure 1: Hip and Thigh Muscles

Muscles of the Iliac and Anterior femoral regions2

Muscles of the Iliac and Anterior femoral regions

Cross-section of middle thigh2

Cross-section of middle thigh

Deep muscles of the medial thigh2

Deep muscles of the medial thigh
Figure 2: Muscles of the gluteal and posterior femoral region
Reading list
  • Ch59 Adductor Longus, Adductor Brevis, Adductor Magnus, Pectineus, and Gracilis Muscles
  • Neuman
  • MMT

Origin

  • Inferior pubic ramus and Ischial ramus
    • My professor referred to the inferior pubic ramus and ischial ramus as the origin for the adductor aspect of the adductor magnus
  • Ischial tuberosity
    • My professors referred to the ischial tuberosity as the hamstring portion

Insertion

  • Deep part (“fleshy insertion”): medial lip of the linea aspera
  • Superficial part (“tendinous insertion”): Adductor tubercle of the femur

Innervation

Action

  • Hip: Adduction, Extension, and slight flexion (the tendinous insertion is also active in internal rotation)
  • Pelvic Stabilization: Coronal and Sagittal planes
Note

According to Brad Jones, the adductor magnus is a hip extensor until -20° Hip extension.

Anatomy

“The anterior head of the adductor magnus has two sets of fibers: horizontal and oblique. The relatively small (and often poorly defined) set of horizontally directed fibers crosses from the inferior pubic ramus to the extreme proximal end of the linea aspera, often called the adductor minimus. The larger obliquely directed fibers run from the ischial ramus to nearly the entire length of the linea aspera, as far distally as the medial supracondylar line.”

“The posterior head of the adductor magnus consists of a thick mass of the fibers arising from the region of the pelvis adjacent to the ischial tuberosity. From this posterior attachment, the fibers run vertically and attach as a tendon on the adductor tubercle on the medial side of the distal femur. The posterior head of the adductor magnus is innervated by the tibial branch of the sciatic nerve, as are most of the hamstring muscles. Because location, innervation, and action are similar to those of the hamstring muscles, the posterior head may also be referred to as the extensor head of the adductor magnus”

Overview

“the adductor magnus is the largest of the adductor muscles, accounting for 60% of the total cross ­sectional area of the entire adductor muscle group.222 As a whole, the adductor magnus attaches proximally to the pelvis from two heads: an anterior head from the ischial ramus and a posterior head from the ischial tuberosity. Realize, however, that other anatomic classifications have been suggested”

References

1.
Betts JG, Blaker W. Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed. OpenStax; 2022. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/?Book%20details
2.
Gray H. Anatomy of the Human Body. 20th ed. (Lewis WH, ed.). Lea & Febiger; 1918. https://www.bartleby.com/107/
3.
Donnelly JM, Simons DG, eds. Travell, Simons & Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Third edition. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2019.
4.
Neumann DA, Kelly ER, Kiefer CL, Martens K, Grosz CM. Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: Foundations for Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2017.
5.
Weinstock D. NeuroKinetic Therapy: An Innovative Approach to Manual Muscle Testing. North Atlantic Books; 2010.
6.
Gilroy AM, MacPherson BR, Wikenheiser JC, Voll MM, Wesker K, Schünke M, eds. Atlas of Anatomy. 4th ed. Thieme; 2020.
7.
Jones B. B Project Foundations. b Project; 2025.

Citation

For attribution, please cite this work as: