Adductor Brevis

musculus adductor brevis

The adductor brevis is the shortest of the three named adductors, lying deep to the adductor longus and superficial to the adductor magnus. It inserts on the upper femoral shaft rather than the more distal linea aspera of the other adductors, making it primarily an adductor with a modest hip flexion contribution. It is rarely injured in isolation and most adductor injuries involve the adductor longus rather than the brevis.

Nerve: Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4) Blood Supply: Deep femoral artery Region: Thigh

Anatomical Data

Origin, Insertion & Supply

Origin	Body and inferior ramus of the pubis
Insertion	Upper third of the medial lip of the linea aspera and the pectineal line of the femur
Nerve Supply	Obturator nerve (L2, L3, L4)
Blood Supply	Deep femoral artery

Biomechanics

Function & Actions

Actions	Adduction of the hip; Assists in flexion of the hip; Assists in medial rotation of the hip

Its proximal femoral insertion limits its mechanical advantage compared to the adductor longus and magnus, making it a secondary contributor to adduction that provides more consistent force across the full hip range than its more distal counterparts.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Adductor brevis strains are uncommon in isolation and usually accompany adductor longus injuries in the medial thigh compartment. The obturator nerve divides into anterior and posterior branches around the adductor brevis, with the anterior branch passing in front and the posterior branch behind, making the muscle a useful landmark in obturator nerve anatomy.

Palpation

The adductor brevis is not directly palpable as it lies deep to the adductor longus. It is assessed as part of the medial thigh adductor group during resisted hip adduction.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Adductor Brevis Strain

Rare isolated muscle tear producing deep medial groin pain, usually identified on MRI when adductor longus injury is being assessed and showing as a secondary finding.