The adductor minimus muscle revisited.

The adductor minimus muscle has had scant and conflicting reports regarding its anatomy with some authors ignoring its existence altogether. The present study was conducted to more precisely describe the anatomy of this muscle. Forty human cadavers underwent dissection of the posterior thigh for observation of the adductor minimus muscle. When identified, this muscle was measured and relationships to the muscle documented. Additionally, five fetuses were dissected to observe for the presence of the adductor minimus muscle. The adductor minimus muscle was found in roughly one half of our specimens and was seen in all fetal specimens. When absent, the quadratus femoris muscle was always more prominent and extended more inferiorly toward the territory of the adductor minimus muscle. The average maximal length, width and thickness for the adductor minimus muscle was 14.6 cm, 7 cm, and 2.25 mm, respectively. Such data may be of consequence to clinicians who rehabilitate posterior thigh musculature or surgeons who operate this region.