Gracilis

The Gracilis works with the other adductors and is the most superficial muscle on the medial side of the thigh. As its name suggests, it is thin and flattened, broad above, narrow and tapering below.

Anatomy of the Gracilis

The gracilis muscle is supplied by the medial circumflex (branch of profunda femoral system) and innervated by the anterior branch of obturator nerve

The gracilis muscle arises by a thin aponeurosis from the anterior margins of the lower half of the symphysis pubis and the upper half of the pubic arch.

The muscle's fibers run vertically downward, ending in a rounded tendon. This tendon passes behind the medial condyle of the femur, curves around the medial condyle of the tibia where it becomes flattened, and inserts into the upper part of the medial surface of the body of the tibia, below the condyle. As a result of this the muscle is a lower limb adductor.

Functions of the Gracilis

The gracilis muscle has the following functions in the body:

• Adducts the hip,
• Flexes the knees, and
• Internally rotates the hip when the knee is flexed

Sitting with the knees pressed together is one of the more common daily uses of the gracilis muscle.

The gracilis muscle is commonly used as a flap in microsurgery. The gracilis muscle can be used in perineal and vaginal reconstruction, after oncological surgery. It can be transferred for the treatment of anal incontinence in a surgery technique known as graciloplasty.

Some of the best exercises to strengthen the gracilis muscle include long adductor stretch, inner thigh machine and hip adduction using a resistance band

As with the other adductor muscles, groin strains are common injuries to the gracilis muscle. This normally occurs without a thorough warm-up or in individuals with chronically tight or weak adductor muscles.

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