| Adductor minimus muscle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Inferior ramus |
| Insertion | Linea aspera of thefemur |
| Artery | Obturator artery and themedial circumflex femoral artery of thefemoral artery |
| Nerve | Obturator andtibial nerves |
| Actions | Adduction and lateral rotation ofthigh |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus adductor minimus |
| TA98 | A04.7.02.029 |
| TA2 | 2632 |
| FMA | 43885 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Inhuman anatomy, theadductor minimus (adductor femoris minimus oradductor quartus) is a small and flatskeletal muscle in thethigh which constitutes the upper, lateral part of theadductor magnus muscle.[1] It adducts and laterally rotates the femur.[2]
The adductor minimus originates on thepelvis at theinferior ramus of the pubis as the anterior-most part of the adductor magnus. It is inserted on the back of thefemur at the medial lip of thelinea aspera and thus crosses the proximal part of the true adductor magnus.[2]
The adductor minimus and the adductor magnus are frequently separated by a branch of the superiorperforating branch of theprofunda femoris artery and the former muscle is considered independent from the latter because it is primarily a separate entity.[1]
It shares innervation with the adductor magnus; theobturator nerve supplies the part attached to thelinea aspera while thetibial nerve (L3-5), a branch of thesciatic nerve, supplies the part inserted onto adductor tubercle.[2]
In 33% of people, asupernumerary muscle is found between the adductor brevis and minimus. When present, this muscle originates from the upper part of theinferior ramus of the pubis from where it runs downwards and laterally. In half of cases, it inserts into the anterior surface of the insertionaponeurosis of the adductor minimus. In the remaining cases, it is either inserted into the upper part of thepectineal line or the posterior part of thelesser trochanter. While similar to its neighbouring adductors, it is formed by separation from the superficial layer of theobturator externus, and is thus notontogenetically related to the adductors.[3]
