The gracilis muscle primarily does what action?

• A. adductor and medially rotates thigh
• B. flexes knee
• C. extends hip
• D. abducts thigh

Answer: (A)

Gracilis is a long, strap-like muscle in the medial thigh whose main job is to bring the thigh toward the midline. This makes thigh adduction its primary action. It also assists in medial rotation of the thigh, especially when the thigh is flexed. Because gracilis crosses the hip and knee, it can contribute to knee flexion as well, and with the knee flexed, it helps medially rotate the leg. It does not abduct the thigh, and extending the hip is not its function. So the best description is a muscle whose primary action is adducting the thigh with an added role in medial rotation.