Gracilis
Original Editor - Eric Henderson
Top Contributors - Eric Henderson, Lucinda hampton, Candace Goh, Joao Costa and Vidya Acharya
Description[edit | edit source]
The gracilis is the most superficial and medial of the muscles at the medial compartment of thigh[1]. It is located next to the adductor musculature. and crosses at both the hip and knee joints. Due to it's attachment to the proximal tibia, the gracilis is able to provide more function than it's neighboring muscles.
Origin[edit | edit source]
The gracilis muscle originates from the inferior ischiopubic ramus, and body of pubis.[3]
Insertion[edit | edit source]
The gracilis muscle decends almost vertically down the leg and inserts on the medial tibia at the Pes anserinus.[3] The pes anserinus is also the attachment site of the Sartorius and Semitendinosus. The muscles attached here can be remembered by the acronym sargent or "SGT" for Sartorius Gracilis semiTendinosus.
Nerve[edit | edit source]
The gracilis muscles is innervated by the anterior branch of the obturator nerve (L2-L4). The anterior branch of the obturator nerve also innervates the adductor longus, and sometimes adductor brevis.[3]
Artery[edit | edit source]
The gracilis muscle receives blood supply from the medial circumflex femoral artery.[3]
Function[edit | edit source]
Due to it's attachment on the tibia, the gracilis flexes the knee, adducts the thigh, and medially rotate the tibia on the femur.[4]
Clinical relevance[edit | edit source]
Groin injuries or groin strain (strain of the adductor muscles) commonly occur in high impact sports that involve ballistic movements or stretching. Tearing of the muscles usually occur at proximal region near bony attachments at the pelvis[1] The gracilis muscle is also commonly used as a donor muscle flap in microsurgery. Because of the muscle type II blood type the muscle can be commonly placed in several sites on the body for reconstructive purposes. The gracilis can be used in fascial reconstructive surgery as well as to repair hand muscles.
Assessment[edit | edit source]
The gracilis muscle can be tested by placing the patient in seated with the therapists hand placed on the patients distal tibia, Have the patient adduct, medially rotate, and flex the hip, as well as flex the knee.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Injury or surgery to the gracilis can be rehabilitated through a standard progression of isometrics -> isotonics -> tendon loading to improve strength during functional activities.
Resources[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Teach Me Anatomy. Muscles in the Medial Compartment of the Thigh. Available from: https://teachmeanatomy.info/lower-limb/muscles/thigh/medial-compartment/ (Accessed on 19 May 2020)
- ↑ Gray, Henry. Anatomy of the Human Body. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918; Bartleby.com, 2000. www.bartleby.com/107/illus430.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Marieb EN, Hoehn K. Human anatomy & physiology. 10th ed. Boston, Ma: Pearson; 2016.
- ↑ Gracilis. Available from: https://rad.washington.edu/muscle-atlas/gracilis/ (accessed 15 May 2018).
