Adductor Brevis (Groin)
Thigh · Lower Limb
The adductor brevis is a short, triangular muscle of the medial thigh lying deep to the pectineus and adductor longus. It arises from the body and inferior ramus of the pubis and inserts on the pectineal line and the proximal part of the linea aspera of the femur. Its action is adduction of the hip, with some assistance in flexion. It is supplied by the obturator nerve (L2, L3), and it is an important surgical landmark because the two divisions of that nerve pass in front of and behind it.
Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve
Origin
Body and inferior ramus of pubis
Insertion
Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of femur
Action
Adduction of hip; assists flexion
Nerve
Obturator nerve (L2, L3)
Attachments explained
The Adductor Brevis (Groin) is defined first by where it attaches. Its origin is the more fixed anchor, usually the proximal or more stable end that stays put during contraction, while its insertion is the more mobile point that is pulled toward the origin when the muscle shortens.
Origin
Body and inferior ramus of pubis
Insertion
Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of femur
Action & function
When the Adductor Brevis (Groin) contracts, it produces the following movements: Adduction of hip; assists flexion.
As part of the Thigh group of the Lower Limb, it works alongside neighbouring muscles to generate smooth, coordinated movement and to stabilise the structures it acts on.
Nerve supply & clinical relevance
The Adductor Brevis (Groin) receives its nerve supply from the Obturator nerve (L2, L3). This nerve carries fibres from spinal segment(s) L2, L3.
Because a muscle can only contract when its nerve is intact, injury to the Obturator nerve or to its spinal roots (L2, L3) can weaken or paralyse the Adductor Brevis (Groin), impairing the movements it normally produces (adduction of hip). This is why knowing the innervation is central to localising nerve lesions in clinical practice.
How to study the Adductor Brevis (Groin) (the OIANS method)
Study the adductor brevis by its depth and its relationship to the obturator nerve. Lying behind the pectineus and adductor longus, it is the muscle across which the anterior and posterior divisions of the obturator nerve split, so learning its position also teaches you how that nerve branches in the medial thigh.
Anchor its function to the shared adductor pattern: running from the pubis to the upper linea aspera, it draws the thigh toward the midline and assists flexion, just like its longer neighbour. Grouping it with the other adductors on the obturator nerve (L2, L3) keeps the medial compartment organised as a single functional set.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Adductor Brevis (Groin) located?
The Adductor Brevis (Groin) is a muscle of the Thigh group, located in the Lower Limb.
What is the origin of the Adductor Brevis (Groin)?
Body and inferior ramus of pubis
What is the insertion of the Adductor Brevis (Groin)?
Pectineal line and proximal part of linea aspera of femur
What movements does the Adductor Brevis (Groin) produce?
Adduction of hip; assists flexion
What nerve supplies the Adductor Brevis (Groin)?
Obturator nerve (L2, L3)
Is the Adductor Brevis (Groin) free to study in OIANS?
The Adductor Brevis (Groin) is always free to browse. Its full origin, insertion, action and nerve details are open to everyone in the Muscle Directory. Quiz and Flashcard practice for the Lower Limb is part of the one-time Lifetime upgrade, though; only the Upper Limb decks are free to test yourself on.
Related muscles
Study the Adductor Brevis (Groin)
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