Contents
Anatomy
General information
- This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page
- A part of the thighs medial muscle group
Position
- Mostly superficial
Origin
- Anterior surface of pubis
- Space in between symphysis pubis and crista pubis
Insertion
- Medial 1/3 of linea aspera of femur
Main function
- Hip
- Adduction
- Flexion
- Pelvis
- Anterior tilt
Secondary function
- Pelvis
- Elevation
Nerve innervation
- Segmental
- L2-L4
- Peripheral
- Nervus obturatorius
Arterial supply
- Deep part of the femoral artery
- Obturator artery
Palpation
- Patient position: Supine
- The tendon of adductor longus is the most prominent of the adductors of the groin
- Place one hand on the proximal and anteromedial aspect of the thigh
- Ask the patient to adduct the hip while you feel for tension in the adductor longus tendon, feel for the most prominent tendon in the groin
- You can follow the muscle further down along the inside of the thigh until it disappears under the sartorius muscle
Strength test
- Patient position: Side-lying with the side tested the lower part
- Ask the patient to lie straight with the body so that the side being tested is the lowest point
- Grab the upper leg and ask the patient to hold it in an abducted position throughout the testing
- Ask the patient to lift the lower leg up and away from the bench so that the lower hip is adducted
- Hold the patient's leg at the medial aspect of femur just proximal to the knee joint, so that you are giving resistance towards abduction
- The patient is giving force towards adduction
- NB! Make sure the pelvis is not rotating forward or that it is tipping anteriorly
- Forward rotation will lead to more tension towards the lower fibers of the gluteus maximus
- Anterior tilt will lead to compesational force of the hip flexors