Pectineus muscle
Encyclopedia
The pectineus muscle is a flat, quadrangular muscle
, situated at the anterior part of the upper and medial aspect of the thigh
.
It can be classified in the medial compartment of thigh
(when the function is emphasized) or the anterior compartment of thigh
(when the nerve is emphasized).
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; the fibers pass downward, backward, and lateralward, to be inserted into the pectineal line of the femur which leads from the lesser trochanter
to the linea aspera
.
, which separates it from the femoral artery
and vein
and internal saphenous vein
, and lower down with the profunda artery
.
By its posterior surface with the capsule of the hip-joint, and with the obturator externus and adductor brevis, the obturator artery
and vein being interposed.
By its external border with the psoas, the femoral artery
resting upon the line of interval.
By its internal border with the outer edge of the adductor longus.
Obturator hernia
is situated directly behind this muscle, which forms one of its coverings.
The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor of the hip.
(L2 and L3) and occasionally (20% of the population) a branch of the obturator nerve
called the accessory obturator nerve
.
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
, situated at the anterior part of the upper and medial aspect of the thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
.
It can be classified in the medial compartment of thigh
Medial compartment of thigh
The medial fascial compartment of thigh contains the hip adductors.The obturator nerve is the primary nerve supplying this compartment.The muscles in the compartment are:* gracilis* adductors** adductor longus** adductor brevis** adductor magnus...
(when the function is emphasized) or the anterior compartment of thigh
Anterior compartment of thigh
The anterior fascial compartment of thigh contains the knee extensors and hip flexors.It contains the following five muscles:* sartorius...
(when the nerve is emphasized).
Origin and insertion
It arises from the pectineal linePectineal line (pubis)
The pecten pubis or pectineal line of the pubis is a ridge on the superior ramus of the pubic bone.The pecten pubis forms part of the pelvic brim.Lying across it are fibers of the pectineal ligament and the proximal origin of the pectineus muscle....
of the pubis
Pubis (bone)
In vertebrates, the pubic bone is the ventral and anterior of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis.It is covered by a layer of fat, which is covered by the mons pubis....
and to a slight extent from the surface of bone in front of it, between the iliopectineal eminence
Iliopectineal eminence
Medial to the anterior inferior iliac spine is a broad, shallow groove, over which the iliacus and psoas major muscles pass. This groove is bounded medially by an eminence, the iliopubic eminence , which marks the point of union of the ilium and pubis.It constitutes a lateral border of the pelvic...
and tubercle of the pubis, and from the fascia covering the anterior surface of the muscle; the fibers pass downward, backward, and lateralward, to be inserted into the pectineal line of the femur which leads from the lesser trochanter
Lesser trochanter
The lesser trochanter of the femur is a conical eminence, which varies in size in different subjects-Anatomy:It projects from the lower and back part of the base of the femur neck.From its apex three well-marked borders extend:...
to the linea aspera
Linea aspera
The linea aspera is a ridge of roughened surface on the posterior aspect of the femur, to which are attached muscles and intermuscular septum.Its margins diverge above and below....
.
Relations
The pectineus is in relation by its anterior surface with the pubic portion of the fascia lataFascia lata
-Thickness:It is an investment for the whole of the thigh, but varies in thickness in different parts.Thus, it is thicker in the upper and lateral part of the thigh, where it receives a fibrous expansion from the Glutæus maximus, and where the Tensor fasciæ latæ is inserted between its layers; it...
, which separates it from the femoral artery
Femoral artery
The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
and vein
Femoral vein
In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the femoral sheath. It begins at the adductor canal and is a continuation of the popliteal vein...
and internal saphenous vein
Saphenous vein
Saphenous vein may refer to:*Great saphenous vein*Small saphenous vein...
, and lower down with the profunda artery
Profunda femoris artery
The profunda femoris artery is a branch of the femoral artery that, as its name suggests, travels more deeply than the rest of the femoral artery.-Structure:...
.
By its posterior surface with the capsule of the hip-joint, and with the obturator externus and adductor brevis, the obturator artery
Obturator artery
The obturator artery is a branch of the internal iliac artery that passes antero-inferiorly on the lateral wall of the pelvis, to the upper part of the obturator foramen, and, escaping from the pelvic cavity through the obturator canal, it divides into both an anterior and a posterior...
and vein being interposed.
By its external border with the psoas, the femoral artery
Femoral artery
The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
resting upon the line of interval.
By its internal border with the outer edge of the adductor longus.
Obturator hernia
Obturator hernia
An obturator hernia is a rare type of abdominal wall hernia in which abdominal content protrudes through the obturator foramen. Because of differences in anatomy, it is much more common in women than in men, especially multiparous and older women who have recently lost a lot of weight. The...
is situated directly behind this muscle, which forms one of its coverings.
Action
It is one of the muscles primarily responsible for hip flexion. It also adducts and medially rotates the thigh.The pectineus muscle is the most anterior adductor of the hip.
Innervation
Innervation is by the femoral nerveFemoral nerve
The femoral nerve, the largest branch of the lumbar plexus, arises from the dorsal divisions of the ventral rami of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves...
(L2 and L3) and occasionally (20% of the population) a branch of the obturator nerve
Obturator nerve
The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.-Path:...
called the accessory obturator nerve
Accessory obturator nerve
In human anatomy, the accessory obturator nerve is an accessory nerve in the lumbar region present in about 29% of cases.It is of small size, and arises from the ventral divisions of the third and fourth lumbar nerves...
.