Which nerve innervates the adductor muscles longus, brevis, and magnus?

Which nerve innervates the adductor muscles longus, brevis, and magnus?

• A. Tibial Nerve
• B. Obturator Nerve
• C. Femoral Nerve
• D. Sciatic Nerve

Answer: (B)

The nerves controlling the thigh’s adductor group come from the obturator nerve. This nerve, arising from L2–L4, travels through the obturator foramen into the medial thigh and divides into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior branch supplies the adductor longus and adductor brevis (and also contributes to gracilis), while the posterior branch supplies the adductor part of the adductor magnus. The hamstring part of adductor magnus is instead innervated by the tibial portion of the sciatic nerve. So for the trio of adductor longus, brevis, and magnus as a whole, the obturator nerve is the primary innervation. The other nerves listed innervate different muscle groups (femoral for the anterior thigh, sciatic/tibial for the posterior compartments).

The nerves controlling the thigh’s adductor group come from the obturator nerve. This nerve, arising from L2–L4, travels through the obturator foramen into the medial thigh and divides into anterior and posterior branches. The anterior branch supplies the adductor longus and adductor brevis (and also contributes to gracilis), while the posterior branch supplies the adductor part of the adductor magnus. The hamstring part of adductor magnus is instead innervated by the tibial portion of the sciatic nerve. So for the trio of adductor longus, brevis, and magnus as a whole, the obturator nerve is the primary innervation. The other nerves listed innervate different muscle groups (femoral for the anterior thigh, sciatic/tibial for the posterior compartments).