Gracilis (Musculus gracilis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The longest and most superficial medial thigh muscle — a slim strap from the pubis to the medial tibial surface via the pes anserinus; the only adductor crossing two joints.
Origin & insertion
Body and inferior ramus of the pubis.
Action
Adducts the hip, flexes the knee and medially rotates it — the dual hip-knee adductor of cross-legged sitting.
Innervation
Obturator nerve — anterior branch (L2–L3).
Clinical notes
Its tendon is the standard ACL-reconstruction graft and latissimus repair; easily harvested without functional loss — the classic "donor muscle".
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Gracilis?
The longest and most superficial medial thigh muscle — a slim strap from the pubis to the medial tibial surface via the pes anserinus; the only adductor crossing two joints.
Why is the Gracilis clinically important?
Its tendon is the standard ACL-reconstruction graft and latissimus repair; easily harvested without functional loss — the classic "donor muscle".
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details