Click on the structure to specify the target of your label
![]() |
01 | ![]() |
Pectineus
Other Terms:
Musculus pectineus,
Muscle pectiné
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus pectineus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Thigh muscle – medial compartment
Etymology
This muscle’s name in English is the comb muscle. The word pectineus comes from the Latin pecten, which translates as “comb.” Os pecten was originally the name given to the bone now referred to as the pubic bone. The prong-like nature of this bone resembled an ancient comb. Since this muscle attached to the comb-bone it became the comb-muscle.
Origin
Pectineal line of the pubis and the bone just anterior to this line
Insertion
Pectineal line of the femur
Action
Adduction and flexion of the hip joint.
Nerve supply
Femoral nerve (L2 and L3); Accessory obturator nerve (L3) (variable, not always present)
Blood supply
From proximal to distal, the muscle is supplied by the obturator artery, the medial circumflex femoral and deep external pudendal branches of the femoral artery, the first perforating branch of the deep femoral artery, and from small direct branches from the femoral artery.
Latin
Musculus pectineus
French
Muscle pectiné