Pectineus Muscle Anatomy Overview

The pectineus muscle is a flat quadrangular muscle located in the anterior part of the superomedial aspect of the thigh. It often appears to be composed of two layers, superficial and deep, and these are generally innervated by two different nerves. Because of the dual nerve supply and the muscle’s actions (the pectineus adducts and flexes the thigh and assists in medial rotation of the thigh), it is actually a transitional muscle between the anterior and medial compartments.

Pectineus Muscle is located in the anterior compartment of the thigh that contains the anterior thigh muscles, the flexors of the hip and extensors of the knee. The anterior thigh muscles include the pectineus, iliopsoas, sartorius, and quadriceps femoris.

See Also: Hip Muscles Anatomy

Pectineus Muscle Anatomy

The pectineus muscle originates from the pectineal line (pecten pubis) and adjacent bone of pelvis, and inserts on the oblique line extending from base of lesser trochanter to linea aspera on posterior surface of femur.

It gets its innervation from the femoral nerve and also sometimes from the obturator nerve., and gets its blood supply from the superficial part by medial circumflex femoral artery and deep part by the anterior branch of obturator artery.

The main action of the pectineus muscle is to adducts and flexes thigh at hip joint.

References & More

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3. Clinically Oriented Anatomy – 8th Edition
4. Paterson AM. Pectineus Muscle and its Nerve-Supply. J Anat Physiol. 1891 Oct;26(Pt 1):43-7. PMID: 17231955; PMCID: PMC1328150. Pubmed
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