The following table summarizes the origin, insertion, nerve supply, and actions of muscles of the adductor compartment of the thigh.
This is an important table for USMLE, PLAB, NEXT-PG. Remember this by heart.
| Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Nerve supply | Actions |
| Pectineus (flat, quadrilateral muscle, composite muscle) | • Pecten pubis • Upper half of the pectineal surface of the superior ramus of the pubis • Fascia covering the pectineus | Line extending from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera | Femoral nerve and anterior division of the obturator nerve | Adduction of the thigh |
| Adductor longus (triangular muscle, forming the medial part of the floor of the femoral triangle) | Body of the pubis in the angle between the pubic crest and the pubic symphysis | Middle 1/3rd of linea aspera | Obturator nerve (anterior division) | Adduction and medial rotation of thigh |
| Adductor brevis (triangular muscle lying behind the pectineus and adductor longus) | • Anterior surface of the body of pubis • Outer surface of the inferior ramus of the pubis between the gracilis and the obturator externus | Line extending from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera, and upper part of the linea aspera itself just lateral to pectineus | Obturator nerve (anterior and posterior divisions) | Adduction of thigh |
| Adductor magnus (large composite) | (a) Hamstring part: inferolateral part of the ischial tuberosity (b) Adductor part: outer part of the ischiopubic ramus | • Medial margin of gluteal tuberosity • Linea aspera • Medial supracondylar line • Adductor tubercle | • Adductor part by the obturator nerve (posterior division) • Hamstring part by the tibial part of sciatic nerve | • Adduction and medial rotation of thigh • Weak extension of hip joint |
| Gracilis | Medial margin of the lower half of the body of the pubis: adjoining anterior part of inferior ramus of the pubis | Upper part of the medial surface of tibia between the insertions of sartorius (in front) and the semitendinosus (behind) | Obturator nerve (anterior division) | • Adduction of thigh • Flexion and medial rotation of leg |
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