Adductor brevis is the middle of the three short adductors, lying between pectineus (anteriorly) and adductor magnus (posteriorly). The anterior and posterior divisions of the obturator nerve pass anterior and posterior to the adductor brevis respectively, making the muscle a surgical landmark for the two obturator divisions in adductor canal procedures.
| Origin | Body and inferior ramus of the pubis, between gracilis and adductor longus origins |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Pectineal line and proximal linea aspera of the femur (upper one-third, deep to adductor longus) |
| Nerve Supply | Anterior division of the obturator nerve (L2-L3) |
| Blood Supply | Medial circumflex femoral artery; obturator artery branches |
| Actions | Adduction of the hip; assists in flexion and external rotation; contributes to groin force transmission during running and kicking sports |
|---|
Adductor brevis strain is a common groin injury in football and ice hockey, producing medial thigh pain with resisted adduction, groin squeeze test, and adductor tendon tenderness. MRI distinguishes adductor brevis from adductor longus and gracilis strains by location of the oedema. The obturator nerve relationship to adductor brevis is exploited in obturator nerve block: injection between adductor longus and adductor brevis at the obturator foramen blocks both anterior and posterior divisions.
Eccentric overload of the adductor brevis during kicking and rapid direction changes produces a proximal myotendinous junction tear with medial thigh pain and groin squeeze pain; MRI distinguishes between the three adductor muscles at the musculotendinous origin with treatment including a graduated rehabilitation and sport-specific return-to-play protocol.
