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Adductor Magnus Muscle

Adductor Magnus Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update: Sep 26th, 2022

The adductor magnus muscle is the largest of the thigh adductors and located on the medial aspect of the femur.

Adductor Magnus (Musculus adductor magnus)

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Gracilis and Adductor Longus.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus Adductor Longus, Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Medialis, Gracilis and Adductor Magnus showing through (highlighted green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Adductor Brevis, Adductor Longus, Gracilis and Adductor Magnus showing through (highlighted green).

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Adductor Magnus. The oblique or adductor head and the vertical or hamstring head are labelled separately.

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Attachments of Adductor Magnus: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment):
a. Oblique head – inferior ramus of pubis & ischial ramus.
b. Vertical head – ischial tuberosity.

Insertion (distal attachment):
a. Oblique head – gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera and proximal supracondylar line of femur.
b. Vertical head – adductor tubercle of femur.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The visible labelled muscles include Psoas Major, Iliacus, Tensor Fasciae Latae, Pectineus, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis, Sartorius, Gracilis and Adductor Longus.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The only visible labelled muscle is Adductor Magnus. The oblique or adductor head and the vertical or hamstring head are labelled separately.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of Adductor Magnus both heads at the inferior ramus of pubis, ischial ramus and ischial tuberosity.

The anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the insertion of Adductor Magnus both heads at the gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera, supracondylar line of the femur and the adductor tubercle of the femur.

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Actions of Adductor Magnus on the thigh (femur):

Oblique head

a. Adducts the thigh at the hip.

Wish there was a faster way to learn the muscles of the leg? Look no further than these comprehensive 3D anatomy videos.

Slide 1 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing adduction of the thigh.

b. Flexes the thigh at the hip.

Slide 1 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 2 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 3 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 4 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Slide 5 of the animation showing flexion of the thigh.

Vertical head

a. Extends the thigh at the hip.

Slide 2 of the animation showing extension of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 3 of the animation showing extension of the vertebral column (torso).

Slide 4 of the animation showing extension of the vertebral column (torso).

Nerve to muscle and its spinal segment:

Oblique head – obturator nerve (L2-L4)
Vertical head – sciatic nerve (L2-L4).

An Overview of the Anterior Muscles of the Thigh

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9 and the answers are concealed.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Psoas Major 2. Iliacus 3. Tensor Fasciae Latae 4. Pectineus 5. Adductor Longus 6. Rectus Femoris 7. Vastus Lateralis 8. Sartorius 9. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Sartorius 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Sartorius 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 7. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Rectus Femoris 5. Vastus Lateralis 6. Vastus Medialis 7. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 6. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Tensor Fasciae Latae 2. Pectineus 3. Adductor Longus 4. Vastus Lateralis 5. Vastus Medialis 6. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Lateralis 4. Vastus Medialis 5. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 5. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Intermedius 4. Vastus Medialis 5. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Vastus Intermedius 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 3. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Pectineus 2. Adductor Longus 3. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 4. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Brevis 2. Adductor Longus 3. Adductor Magnus 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Longus 2. Adductor Magnus: oblique or adductor head 3. Adductor Magnus: vertical or hamstring head 4. Gracilis.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Longus 2. Adductor Magnus: oblique or adductor head 3. Adductor Magnus: vertical or hamstring head.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column. The muscles of the anterior thigh are numbered 1 to 9. The answers revealed at the bottom are as follows 1. Adductor Magnus: oblique or adductor head 2. Adductor Magnus: vertical or hamstring head.

A quiz image of the anterior view of the thigh, pelvis and lower section of the vertebral column showing the origin of the two heads of Adductor Magnus muscle. The oblique head at the inferior ramus of pubis and ischial ramus, the vertical head at the ischial tuberosity. The posterior view of the thigh and pelvis shows the insertion of the two heads of Adductor Magnus muscle. The oblique head at the gluteal tuberosity, linea aspera and proximal supracondylar line of femur, the vertical head at the adductor tubercle of the femur.

Test yourself while observing the Adductor Magnus muscle

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