[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Anatomy](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/) › [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) › Adductor brevis [Muscular system](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/system/muscular-system/) · [Lower limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/lower-limb/) # Adductor brevis The adductor brevis is a short muscle of the inner thigh, from the pubic bone to the [femur](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/femur/); it pulls the leg inward. [See in 3D →](https://durgical.app/?from=durgipedia&lang=en#region=lower_limb&select=adductor_brevis&side=r) Opens in the Durgical app, no sign-up needed. ## What it is A short inner thigh muscle, from the pubic bone to the upper back of the femur. It lies under the pectineus and adductor longus. ## What it does Pulls the leg inward and helps steady the [pelvis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/pelvis/) when walking. ## Key points - Key landmark for the obturator nerve: the anterior branch runs in front of it, the posterior branch behind it - The middle layer of the medial thigh: pectineus and adductor longus in front, adductor magnus behind - The [deep femoral artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/deep-femoral-artery/) runs down on its front surface, behind the adductor longus ## Key facts **Origin** Body and inferior ramus of pubis **Insertion** Pectineal line and upper linea aspera **Action** Adducts hip; weak hip flexion **Nerve** Obturator nerve (L2–L4) **Blood supply** Deep femoral artery; [medial circumflex femoral artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/medial-circumflex-femoral-artery/); [obturator artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/obturator-artery/) ## Relations **In front** [Pectineus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pectineus-muscle/) and [adductor longus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-longus/), with the anterior branch of the [obturator nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/obturator-nerve/) and the deep femoral vessels **Behind** [Adductor magnus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-magnus/), with the posterior branch of the obturator nerve **Medial** [Gracilis](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/gracilis-muscle/) **Above** [Obturator externus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/obturator-externus/) ## How to find it Not palpable on its own. On ultrasound of the upper medial thigh the adductors show as three layers (longus, brevis, magnus); the anterior branch of the obturator nerve lies between the longus and the brevis, the posterior branch between the brevis and the magnus. ## On imaging Axial MRI and ultrasound show the adductors in three layers: longus in front, brevis in the middle, magnus behind. The brevis is found between the two branches of the obturator nerve, the landmark for an obturator block on ultrasound. Strains near the pubic origin show as oedema on MRI, usually with an adductor longus injury. Radiographs do not show it. ## Common problems - Groin strain: a pulled inner thigh muscle from kicking, skating, sprinting or quick changes of direction. - Groin pain can also come from the hip joint, a hernia or the pubic bone area (athletic pubalgia), which need to be told apart. ## How it is diagnosed Physical exam: tenderness and pain when squeezing the legs together against resistance. Ultrasound or MRI for significant injuries or long-lasting pain. ## Treatment - Rest, ice, then gradual stretching and strengthening with a physical therapist. - A planned return to sport, with hip and core strengthening to prevent repeat strains. - Rarely, surgery for a complete tendon pull-off or long-standing groin pain that does not improve. ## Clinical notes - An obturator nerve block in the planes on either side of it prevents the sudden adductor jerk during transurethral bladder surgery and eases adductor spasticity - Adductor release, sometimes with division of the anterior branch of the obturator nerve, has been used for adductor spasticity in cerebral palsy to reduce scissoring and hip displacement - It can be strained together with the adductor longus in groin injuries from kicking or quick changes of direction, although the longus is the adductor most often torn ## Development Like all the adductors, it comes from the ventral muscle mass of the limb bud, hence its supply by the obturator nerve, built from anterior divisions of L2–L4. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## How do the two branches of the obturator nerve relate to the adductor brevis? The anterior branch runs in front of it, the posterior branch behind it. ## Which artery runs down on the front of the adductor brevis? The deep femoral artery, behind the adductor longus. ## What is the nerve supply of the adductor brevis? The obturator nerve (L2–L4). [Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/anatomy/adductor-brevis/) Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional. ## Its names **Official Latin (TA2)** adductor brevis TA2 2629 **Official Spanish (DeCS)** Músculo aductor corto **English (TA2)** Adductor brevis **Also called** adductor brevis muscle ## Related - [Pectineus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/pectineus-muscle/) - [Adductor longus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-longus/) - [Adductor magnus](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-magnus/) - [Obturator nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/obturator-nerve/) - [Circumflex femoral arteries](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/medial-circumflex-femoral-artery/) - [Deep femoral artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/deep-femoral-artery/) - [Obturator artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/obturator-artery/) - [Femur](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/femur/) Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [Anatomy, Bony Pelvis and Lower Limb: Medial Thigh Muscles](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534775/). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-brevis/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/adductor-brevis/