Difference Between Abductor and Adductor Muscles

Last Updated : 14 Apr, 2023

Abductor and adductor muscles are two types of muscles, that work in opposite directions to move the body parts toward and away from the midline of the body, respectively. Abductor’s muscles are responsible for the movement of body parts away from the midline of the body. Adductor muscles are responsible for the movement of the body parts toward the midline of the body. These muscles are found in various parts of our body, such as the foot, hip, hand, and thigh, which are crucial for lateral movements and athletic performance.

Abductor Muscles

In Latin, the word ‘abductor‘ means ‘to draw away from‘. Abductor’s muscles are the muscles that pull the body parts from inward to outward from the midline of our body. For example, abductor muscles in our legs help us to keep our legs apart from each other. There are several abductor muscles present in the body, such as in the hips, shoulders, and fingers.

Abductor’s muscles are located all over the body. The most well-known abductor muscles are in the hip. These muscles are responsible for moving the legs outwards from the body’s midline. Gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae are primary abductor muscles in the hip. These muscles are responsible for the lateral rotation and abduction (external movement) of your thigh.

In the shoulders, the abductor’s muscles are used to raise the arms outward from the body’s midline. The deltoid is the primary abductor muscle in the shoulder, a large triangular muscle that covers the shoulder joint. The deltoid muscle is divided into three parts: the anterior, middle, and posterior. The anterior helps to raise the arms to the front of the body, the middle deltoid helps to raise to the side of the body, and the posterior deltoid helps to raise the arms to the back of the body.

In the fingers, the abductor’s muscles are used to spread the fingers apart. The dorsal interossei muscle is the primary muscle in the fingers.

Adductor Muscles

In Latin, the word ‘adductor’ means ‘to draw towards’. Adductor muscles are a group of muscles that pulls your body parts toward the midline of the body. These muscles are spread throughout the body, including the hip, thigh, and foot.

Adductor muscles in the hip are the most well-known. These muscles are responsible for moving the legs inward towards the body’s midline. Adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, pectineus, and gracilis are primary adductor muscles in the hip. These muscles are used to keep our legs close together. In our eyes, these muscles are active when we try to look at our noses.

In the foot, the adductor muscles are used to bring the toes together. The adductor hallucis muscle is the primary adductor muscle that helps to bring one toe towards the other toes.