Which muscles are supplied by obturator nerve?
## Core Concept
The obturator nerve is a major nerve of the lower limb that arises from the lumbar plexus (L2-L4). It provides motor innervation to the medial thigh muscles and sensory innervation to the medial thigh region. The primary function of the obturator nerve is to innervate the adductor muscles of the thigh.
## Why the Correct Answer is Right
The obturator nerve supplies the **adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus (except the hamstring part),** and **gracilis muscles**. These muscles are primarily responsible for hip adduction, which is the movement of bringing the thigh towards the midline of the body. The obturator nerve also provides sensory branches to the skin of the medial thigh.
## Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect
* **Option A:** This option is incorrect because it does not accurately represent the muscles supplied by the obturator nerve.
* **Option B:** This option is incorrect because, although some of the muscles listed might be involved in thigh movement, they are not specifically supplied by the obturator nerve.
* **Option D:** This option is incorrect because it likely includes muscles not supplied by the obturator nerve or omits key muscles that are supplied.
## Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact
A key clinical correlation to remember is that the obturator nerve can be damaged during pelvic fractures or surgical procedures, leading to weakness in hip adduction and potentially causing the patient to have a Trendelenburg gait. The obturator nerve can also be involved in conditions like obturator nerve entrapment, which presents with medial thigh pain and weakness of the adductor muscles.
## Correct Answer: C.