Which nerve provides innervation to gracilis?

Which nerve provides innervation to gracilis?

• A. Posterior division obturator nerve
• B. Tibial nerve
• C. Anterior division obturator nerve
• D. Femoral nerve

Answer: (C)

Gracilis is a medial thigh muscle that gets its nerve supply from the obturator nerve, specifically its anterior division. The obturator nerve (L2–L4) divides in the thigh into anterior and posterior branches, and the anterior division innervates the gracilis along with the adductor longus and adductor brevis (and sometimes the pectineus). This pattern fits why gracilis is not supplied by the femoral or tibial nerves, which innervate the muscles of the anterior thigh and posterior compartments of the leg, respectively. The posterior division of the obturator nerve tends to supply other structures such as the obturator externus and the adductor portion of the adductor magnus. Therefore, the nerve providing innervation to gracilis is the anterior division of the obturator nerve.

Gracilis is a medial thigh muscle that gets its nerve supply from the obturator nerve, specifically its anterior division. The obturator nerve (L2–L4) divides in the thigh into anterior and posterior branches, and the anterior division innervates the gracilis along with the adductor longus and adductor brevis (and sometimes the pectineus). This pattern fits why gracilis is not supplied by the femoral or tibial nerves, which innervate the muscles of the anterior thigh and posterior compartments of the leg, respectively. The posterior division of the obturator nerve tends to supply other structures such as the obturator externus and the adductor portion of the adductor magnus. Therefore, the nerve providing innervation to gracilis is the anterior division of the obturator nerve.