Medial compartment of thigh

Medial Compartment of Thigh

The Medial compartment of thigh is one of the three compartments in the thigh that is located on the inner side of the thigh. It contains a group of muscles known as the adductor muscles, which are responsible for adducting, or bringing together, the thigh and the body's midline.

The medial compartment of the thigh. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Anatomy

Muscles

The medial compartment of the thigh consists of the following muscles:

• Adductor longus
• Adductor brevis
• Adductor magnus
• Gracilis
• Obturator externus

These muscles are primarily responsible for the adduction of the thigh. They are innervated by the obturator nerve and receive blood supply from the obturator artery.

Nerves and Vessels

The main nerve of the medial compartment of the thigh is the obturator nerve. This nerve originates from the lumbar plexus and provides sensation and motor function to the adductor muscles.

The main artery supplying the medial compartment of the thigh is the obturator artery, a branch of the internal iliac artery. It provides oxygenated blood to the muscles and other structures in the compartment.

Function

The primary function of the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh is to adduct the thigh, or bring it towards the midline of the body. This is an important movement in many daily activities, such as walking, running, and jumping.

Clinical Significance

Injury or disease affecting the medial compartment of the thigh can lead to pain, weakness, or loss of function in the adductor muscles. This can affect a person's ability to walk or perform other movements involving the thigh.

See Also

• Thigh
• Adductor muscles of the hip
• Obturator nerve
• Obturator artery