Which muscle acts as an antagonist to adductor magnus during adduction of the hip?

Which muscle acts as an antagonist to adductor magnus during adduction of the hip?

• A. Gracilis
• B. Adductor Longus
• C. Gluteus Maximus
• D. Tensor Fasciae Latae

Answer: (A)

When a muscle adducts the hip, the opposite action is abduction—pulling the thigh away from the midline. The muscle that acts as the antagonist to adductor magnus in this movement is the tensor fasciae latae, which abducts (and also flexes) the hip and helps stabilize the pelvis during gait. Among the options, this muscle best opposes adduction by pulling the thigh outward rather than inward. The other choices primarily contribute to adduction (gracilis and adductor longus) or are not the main abductors (gluteus maximus mainly extends the hip and rotates it).

When a muscle adducts the hip, the opposite action is abduction—pulling the thigh away from the midline. The muscle that acts as the antagonist to adductor magnus in this movement is the tensor fasciae latae, which abducts (and also flexes) the hip and helps stabilize the pelvis during gait. Among the options, this muscle best opposes adduction by pulling the thigh outward rather than inward. The other choices primarily contribute to adduction (gracilis and adductor longus) or are not the main abductors (gluteus maximus mainly extends the hip and rotates it).