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Adductor Brevis Muscle Anatomy

Quick Overview View Flashcards
Origin
  • Body of the pubis
  • Inferior pubic ramus
Insertion
  • Upper third of the linea aspera
  • Pectineal line of the femur
Action
  • Adduction of the hip joint (primary)
  • Flexion of the hip joint (secondary)
  • May assist with rotation of the femur depending on hip position
Innervation
  • Obturator nerve L2-L4 (anterior division)
Blood Supply
  • Deep femoral artery
Last updated: Estimated Reading Time: 9 min

Location & Overview

The adductor brevis muscle is a small, somewhat fan-shaped muscle located in the medial compartment of the thigh. The other muscles of the medial compartment of the thigh are the adductor longus, gracilis, and adductor magnus.[1] As the smallest muscle in the adductor group, the adductor brevis is positioned between the adductor longus and the adductor magnus muscles and is located deep to the pectineus and adductor longus muscles.[2]

The main function of the adductor brevis muscle, as well as the other muscles within the medial compartment of the thigh, is adduction (moving the thigh toward the midline of the body).[3] The adductor brevis also has secondary actions, which are covered further in the Action & Function section below.

image of the adductor brevis from an anterior view
Here, we can see the adductor brevis from an anterior view.
adductor brevis, anterolateral view
Here, we can see the adductor brevis from an anterolateral view.
adductor brevis, posterolateral view
Here, we can see the adductor brevis from a posterolateral view.
image of the adductor brevis from a posterior view
Here, we can see the adductor brevis from a posterior view.
Image of the adductor brevis muscle highlighted in red
Here, we can see an image of the adductor brevis muscle highlighted in red. Other muscles of the thigh, such as the quadriceps, have been removed to reveal its location.
An image of the adductor brevis among the other muscles of the thigh
Here, we can see the adductor brevis among the other muscles of the thigh. The adductor brevis is displayed on the right side of the image, highlighted in green. Because the adductor brevis is a deep muscle, other muscles have been stripped back so we can see its location. The leg is missing the tensor fasciae latae, sartorius, quadriceps, and iliotibial band. You can see these still in place on the other leg for reference.
A labeled diagram of the muscles and compartments of the thigh; the anterior compartment, posterior compartment, and the medial compartment.
Here, we can see an image of the compartments of the thigh. We can see the adductor brevis in the medial compartment, the section colored in blue.

Origin & Insertion

The adductor brevis muscle originates on the inferior and anterior aspects of the pelvis and inserts onto the medial and posterior side of the femur. The specific origin point on the pelvis is the body of the pubis and the inferior pubic ramus. The body of the pubis is the central, flat portion of the pubic bone that forms the anterior part of the pelvic girdle. The inferior pubic ramus is a thin extension of bone that projects downward and outward from the body of the pubis, connecting it to the ischium.[2,4,5,6]

image of the origin of the adductor brevis on the body of the pubis and inferior pubic ramus
Here, we can see the origin of the adductor brevis highlighted in red. The origin is on the body of the pubis and inferior pubic ramus.

The muscle then passes across the hip joint and attaches to the femur, specifically on the upper third of the linea aspera, a prominent ridge that runs vertically along the posterior surface of the femur. This insertion extends to the pectineal line, a short, oblique ridge on the proximal posterior surface of the femur that runs between the lesser trochanter and the linea aspera.[2,4,5,6] The pectineal line provides an additional attachment point for the adductor brevis and other muscles, such as the pectineus and vastus medialis.[3]

Image of the adductor brevis on the upper third of the linea aspera and the pectineal line of the femur
Here, we can see the insertion of the adductor brevis highlighted in blue. The insertion is on the upper third of the linea aspera and the pectineal line of the femur.

Action & Function

The primary action of the adductor brevis muscle is adduction of the hip joint, which involves bringing the thigh toward the midline of the body. A secondary action of the adductor brevis is flexion of the hip joint, helping to bend the hip forward.[2,6]

Image of a person demonstrating the movement of hip adduction.
This image shows an example of hip adduction, which involves moving the leg/thigh toward the body (medially). The opposite of hip adduction is hip abduction. The adductor brevis’ primary action is hip adduction.
Image of a person demonstrating the movement of hip flexion.
In this image, you can see an example of hip flexion, which is the action of raising your leg up in front of you and causing your hip to bend. If both legs are fixed, the torso will lean forward toward the legs. The opposite movement of hip flexion is hip extension. Hip flexion is a secondary action of the adductor brevis muscle.

Research suggests that the adductor brevis may contribute to rotation of the femur at the hip joint, but this role appears to depend on hip position and is not usually considered one of its primary actions. Anatomical and functional studies have reported that the adductor brevis may be able to assist with both internal rotation and external rotation in different hip positions. In general, flexion and abduction of the hip appear to increase its tendency to contribute to external rotation, while extension and adduction appear to increase its tendency to contribute to internal rotation.[7] Functional analysis of gait has also suggested that the hip adductors, including the adductor brevis, may help control internal rotation eccentrically during some phases of gait and may contribute to external rotation during terminal stance and preswing.[8] However, rotation should still be treated as a possible secondary or position-dependent action rather than a primary action of the adductor brevis.

Image of a person demonstrating the movement of internal rotation and external rotation.
This image shows an example of hip internal (medial) rotation and external (lateral) rotation. Internal rotation involves rotating the leg from the hip joint inward (medially). The opposite of internal rotation is external rotation, which involves rotating the leg from the hip joint outward (laterally). Some evidence suggests the adductor brevis may assist with internal or external rotation of the hip joint depending on hip position.[7,8] Rotation is therefore best understood as a possible secondary, position-dependent action rather than a primary action of the adductor brevis.

Innervation

The adductor brevis muscle is innervated by the obturator nerve’s anterior division, which arises from the lumbar plexus with nerve roots L2-L4.[1,2] The obturator nerve is divided into anterior and posterior divisions as it passes through the obturator canal. The anterior division innervates the adductor longus, adductor brevis, and gracilis muscles, as well as providing innervation to the hip joint. The posterior division innervates the external obturator and adductor magnus muscles, while also supplying innervation to the knee joint. The obturator artery and vein travel with the obturator nerve in the obturator canal.[9,6]

In some cases, the obturator nerve can become entrapped within the thick fascia overlying the adductor brevis muscle, sometimes seen in athletes reporting deep aching pain in the groin and medial thigh, as well as weakness during exercise.[10]

Image of the obturator nerve
This image shows the obturator nerve arising from the lumbar plexus with nerve roots from L2-L4.

Blood Supply

The blood supply to the adductor brevis muscle primarily comes from branches of the deep femoral artery, also known as the profunda femoris artery. The deep femoral artery is a major branch of the femoral artery and passes deep within the thigh, close to the adductor muscles. As it descends, it gives off perforating branches that help supply the adductor brevis and surrounding medial thigh tissues.[11,6]

The deep femoral artery passes distally, first between the adductor longus and adductor brevis muscles, and then between the adductor longus and adductor magnus muscles. During its course posterior to the adductor longus muscle, it gives off the medial femoral circumflex artery and three perforating arteries before terminating at mid-thigh level as the fourth perforating artery. These perforating arteries supply blood to the adductor brevis muscle and the surrounding tissues, and they also have anastomotic branches that lead to other perforators, muscular branches, and cutaneous branches.[11,6]

Image of the arteries of the lower limb
This image shows the arteries of the lower limb. You can see the deep femoral artery located in the thigh region, labeled on the right leg. You can also see how it branches off from the femoral artery. The deep femoral artery provides blood to the adductor brevis muscle.

References

  1. [1] Jeno SH, Schindler GS. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Thigh Adductor Magnus Muscle. (Updated 2022 Aug 1). In: StatPearls (Internet). Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534842/
  2. [2] Ransom AL, Sinkler MA, Nallamothu SV. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Femoral Muscles. (Updated 2022 Sep 20). In: StatPearls (Internet). Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500008/
  3. [3] Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2017.
  4. [4] Kiel J, Kaiser K. Adductor Strain. (Updated 2022 Jun 21). In: StatPearls (Internet). Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493166/
  5. [5] Ramage JL, Varacallo M. Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Medial Thigh Muscles. (Updated 2022 Aug 29). In: StatPearls (Internet). Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534775/
  6. [6] Standring S. (2015). Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice, 41st Edn. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
  7. [7] Reimann R, Sodia F, Klug F. Die umstrittene Rotationswirkung ausgewählter Muskeln im Hüftgelenk (Controversial rotation function of certain muscles in the hip joint). Ann Anat. 1996 Aug;178(4):353-9. German. PMID: 8928937.
  8. [8] Leighton RD. A functional model to describe the action of the adductor muscles at the hip in the transverse plane. Physiother Theory Pract. 2006 Nov;22(5):251-62. doi: 10.1080/09593980600927385. PMID: 17118893.
  9. [9] Weiss, L., Silver, J. K., Lennard, T. A., & Weiss, J. M. (2007). Nerves. In Easy Injections (pp. 105-155). Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, SUNY-Stony Brook College of Medicine; Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-075067527-7.10006-5
  10. [10] Craig, A. (2015). Nerve Compression/Entrapment Sites of the Lower Limb. In Nerves and Nerve Injuries: Vol 2: Pain, Treatment, Injury, Disease and Future Directions (pp. 755-770). Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-802653-3.00097-X
  11. [11] Özkan, Ö., & Coşkunfirat, O. K. (2009). Tensor fascia lata flap. In Flaps and Reconstructive Surgery (SECTION THREE, pp. 561-576). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7216-0519-7.00038-1

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