Gracilis

Summary

Origins

• Body and inferior ramus of the pelvis

Insertions

• Pes anserinus on the proximal medial tibia

Actions

• Adducts the hip
• Flexes the knee
• Medially rotates the leg when the knee is flexed

The gracilis is a slender strap running down the inner thigh. It starts on both the body and inferior ramus of the pelvis and drops straight to the pes anserinus on the proximal tibia. Its long tendon sits just ahead of semitendinosus near the knee, giving a clean medial border to the hamstrings.

Functionally the gracilis adducts the hip, flexes the knee, and helps rotate the tibia inward when the knee is bent. For artists it draws a subtle inner thigh ridge that sharpens during abduction and deep squats, echoing the line of sartorius and balancing the mass of adductor longus.

References

• Wikipedia