Groin muscles

The groin muscles are a group of 5 muscles called the adductors. They are the adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. They connect from the pelvis to the inside of the thigh bone (femur) and the top inside of the shin bone (tibia). Your groin muscles allow you to move your leg toward the center of your body. They also help with balance and stabilization. These muscles are prone to strains and tears caused by overuse or sudden movements, like twisting or turning sharply.

Review Date: 6/20/2024
Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.