Pectineus


 * Author:** Nadine Volkwyn

toc =Description = Pectineus is a flat and quadrangular shaped muscle that is located in the anterior layer of the medial/adductor compartment of the thigh. It lays between iliopsoas and adductor longus muscles. It originates from the pectineal line of the superior pubic ramus on the pubis. It slopes backwards and inferiorly to the upper part of the femoral shaft, where it inserts onto the posterior surface of the femur, along the line of the lesser trochanter to the linear aspera. This line is also referred to as the pectineal line. Pectineus adducts the thigh, flexes the hip joint and medially rotates the hip. The nerves which supply this muscle are the femoral nerve (usually) and the obturator nerve (occasionally). Blood vessels that supply pectineus are the femoral artery. = = = = =Interactions and relations to other Muscles = Pectineus muscle forms part of the medial compartment of the thigh. More specifically, pectineus lies in the anterior layer of the medial compartment, along with adductor longus. Pectineus lies between iliopsoas and adductor longus. These three muscles form the floor of the femoral triangle. The medial compartment of the thigh (including pectineus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus and gracilis) share the common primary action of adduction, thus making these muscles synergists, hence, this compartment is also known as the adductor compartment of the thigh.

=Relevance to Occupational Therapy = Pectineus as any other muscle can result in spasms if it contracts beyond the optimal level. An Occupational therapist works together with a team of other professions to improve and maintain function. We provide energy conservation techniques which can help relieve spasticity. We also recommend ways in which one can adapt one’s living environment and working environment so that one can live and function effectively and close to “normal” injury to pectineus is chronic. We educate and facilitate clients with assistive devices that may aid the process of living fully with minimal disturbance of the disability. In general this muscle is responsible for hip flexion, adduction and medial rotation. Performing an activity analysis assists OTs in identifying the movements required to perform the client’s chosen activity and then using these activities as therapy. Therefore an example of this would be, if the client loves cooking they would need to be able to flex their hips to be able to access cupboards below waist level. Working in the kitchen and adopting positions that strengthen this muscle would be an example of occupation based therapy. This therapy would be provided in a graded manner in order for muscle strengthening to occur.

=Links to online interactive material = media type="youtube" key="pxJzZaXplVY" height="315" width="560" media type="youtube" key="LLPyc5bXiJc" height="315" width="560" media type="youtube" key="6YRqbTXFF6Y" height="315" width="420" =References= Chummy S. Sinnatamby, Last’s Anatomy, Regional and Applied. Ed.11, 2006. []