Pectineus

The pectineus muscle refers to a flat, quadrangular muscle, situated at the anterior part of the upper and medial aspect of the thigh. The pectineus muscle is positioned between the Iliopsoas and Adductor Longus muscles and is part of the short adductor group with adductors brevis and longus.

Anatomy of the Pectineus

Innervation is by the femoral nerve and occasionally a branch of the obturator nerve. As the other adductor muscles, it is supplied by the obturator artery

The pectineus muscle arises from the pectineal line of the pubis and to a slight extent from the surface of bone in front of it, between the iliopectineal eminence and tubercle of the pubis, and from the fascia covering the anterior surface of the muscle.

Its fibers pass downward, backward, and lateral ward, to be inserted into the pectineal line of the femur which leads from the lesser trochanter to the linea aspera.

Functions of the Pectineus

The pectineus muscle has the following functions in the body:

• Hip adduction,
• Medially rotate the thigh, and
• Hip flexion

When kicking a football, you are specifically using the pectineus.

Some of the best exercises to strengthen the pectineus 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 pectineus muscle. This normally occurs without a thorough warm-up or in individuals with chronically tight or weak adductor muscles.

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