Adductor Longus (Groin)
Thigh · Lower Limb
The adductor longus is the most anterior of the adductor muscles of the medial thigh and forms the medial border of the femoral triangle. It arises by a narrow tendon from the body of the pubis, just below the pubic crest, and fans out to insert on the middle third of the linea aspera of the femur. Its main action is adduction of the hip, and it also assists with flexion and medial rotation. It is supplied by the obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4).
Origin, Insertion, Action & Nerve
Origin
Body of pubis (inferior to pubic crest)
Insertion
Middle third of linea aspera of femur
Action
Adduction of hip; assists flexion and medial rotation
Nerve
Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Attachments explained
The Adductor Longus (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 of pubis (inferior to pubic crest)
Insertion
Middle third of linea aspera of femur
Action & function
When the Adductor Longus (Groin) contracts, it produces the following movements: Adduction of hip; assists flexion and medial rotation.
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 Longus (Groin) receives its nerve supply from the Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4). This nerve carries fibres from spinal segment(s) L2, L3, L4.
Because a muscle can only contract when its nerve is intact, injury to the Obturator nerve or to its spinal roots (L2, L3, L4) can weaken or paralyse the Adductor Longus (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 Longus (Groin) (the OIANS method)
Learn the adductor longus as the frontmost and most easily palpable of the adductor group, its tendon standing out at the groin when the thigh is drawn inward against resistance. Because it runs from the pubis to the middle of the linea aspera, its principal action of adduction, with assisting flexion, follows directly from that medial line of pull.
Group it with the other adductors on the obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4), the shared nerve of the medial compartment. Fix its clinical relevance as a common site of groin strain in athletes, which reinforces both its superficial anterior position and its role in forceful adduction.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Adductor Longus (Groin) located?
The Adductor Longus (Groin) is a muscle of the Thigh group, located in the Lower Limb.
What is the origin of the Adductor Longus (Groin)?
Body of pubis (inferior to pubic crest)
What is the insertion of the Adductor Longus (Groin)?
Middle third of linea aspera of femur
What movements does the Adductor Longus (Groin) produce?
Adduction of hip; assists flexion and medial rotation
What nerve supplies the Adductor Longus (Groin)?
Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Is the Adductor Longus (Groin) free to study in OIANS?
The Adductor Longus (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 Longus (Groin)
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