The adductor brevis is the smallest of the three adductor muscles (brevis, longus, magnus), lying deep to the adductor longus and superficial to the adductor magnus. The obturator nerve divides anterior and posterior to the adductor brevis — the anterior branch passes in front and the posterior branch behind — making this muscle the key landmark for the obturator nerve anatomy. Adductor brevis strains are less common than adductor longus but produce similar medial groin pain.
| Origin | Inferior pubic ramus (between the gracilis medially and the adductor longus laterally) |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Upper linea aspera and pectineal line — deep to the adductor longus |
| Nerve Supply | Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4) — anterior division |
| Blood Supply | Medial circumflex femoral and obturator arteries |
| Actions | Hip adduction; Hip flexion assistance |
|---|
The obturator nerve's relationship to the adductor brevis is anatomically precise — identifying the muscle at obturator nerve exploration helps locate both the anterior and posterior branches. Adductor brevis tears are frequently associated with adductor longus tears in complete adductor ruptures in high-speed sport.
The adductor brevis is not individually palpable from the surface — it is identified by ultrasound or MRI as the middle layer of the medial thigh deep to the adductor longus.
Deep groin muscle injury from adductor overload producing medial groin pain managed with progressive loading rehabilitation alongside adductor longus treatment.
