Gracilis: It is the most superficial and medial of the muscles in the medial compartment of the thigh. The Gracilis crosses at both the hip and knee joints. The gracilis originate at the external point of the ischiopubic ramus and extends down to the upper medial shaft of the tibia.
The gracilis is liable for hip adduction and assists to knee flexion. The gracilis bringing both legs together or across the body. This muscle further assists in stabilizing and rotating the knee inward.
There are five groin muscles acts in adducting the hip, this combines the pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, and gracilis muscle. Stretching of the groin muscles helps prevent strain injuries to the gracilis.
The obturator nerve innervates this muscle. Injury to this area can commence to more than simple muscle problems; nerve impingement can restrict muscle control and the sensory input coming from the groin area. Obturator nerve impingement usually leads to radiating pain starting at the hip, and pain can be extending downward to the knee or beyond.
Origin-It originates from the inferior rami of the pubis, and the body of the pubis.
Insertion- it attaches to the medial surface of the tibia, between the tendons of the sartorius and the semitendinosus.
Function of the Gracilis
Adduction of the thigh at the hip, and flexion of the leg at the knee.
Nerve Supply of the Gracilis
Obturator nerve (L2-L4).