Lower limb
Pectineus
Musculus pectineus
- Origin
- Pectineal line of the pubis (superior border of the superior pubic ramus)
- Insertion
- Pectineal line of the femur, distal to the lesser trochanter
- Function
- Flexion and adduction of the hip, with a slight internal rotation component
- Innervation
- Femoral nerve (often also innervated by the obturator nerve), L2-L3
- Movement & chain
- Works together with the adductors and iliopsoas in combined hip flexion-adduction, for example when drawing the thigh up during cycling.
- Palpation
- Palpable deep in the groin, medial to iliopsoas, during resisted adduction.
- Clinical
- Can become overloaded within the spectrum of groin injuries during sprinting or cycling movements, with deep tenderness in the groin.
- Segmental innervation
- L2-L3.
- In clinical practice
- Together with iliopsoas and adductor longus, forms the floor of the femoral triangle (Scarpa's triangle), an important landmark for vascular puncture.
- Region in the model
- Lower limb