Gracilis

General information

Gracilis muscle is a long and slender muscle situated in the medial thigh. Along with the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus and pectineus muscles, they make up the thigh adductors group.

Literal meaning

The slender/thin muscle.

Interesting information

Gracilis is the most superficially situated hip adductors and covers the other four in this group. It is also the weakest adductor in the group but also the only one to act on both the hip and knee joints. The Gracilis also has an important role in trunk balance when walking.

Origin

Anterior body of pubis, inferior pubic ramus, ischial ramus.

Insertion

Medial surface of proximal tibia (via pes anserinus).

Function

Hip joint: Thigh flexion, thigh adduction.

Knee joint: leg flexion, leg internal rotation.

Nerve supply

Obturator nerve (L2-L3).

Blood supply

Deep femoral artery (via artery to the adductors).

Relevant research

The gracilis can be used a muscle flap for facial reanimation/facial palsy and has the potential for producing periorbital-wrinkling characteristic of a Duchenne smile.

Boahene, K. O., Owusu, J., Ishii, L., Ishii, M., Desai, S., Kim, I., Kim, L., & Byrne, P. (2018). The Multivector Gracilis Free Functional Muscle Flap for Facial Reanimation. JAMA facial plastic surgery, 20(4), 300–306.

Gracilis exercises

Strengthening:

Side lunge

Standing with your feet together, take a wide step to the side and bend your knee. Your leg that stayed behind should remain straight whilst the other is bent.

Stretching:

Adductor stretch sitting two legs overpressure

Sitting on the floor, bend both knees and drop the knees outwards, creating a stretch on the inside of the legs. Using both hands to push down the knees increases the stretch.