Adductor Hallucis

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The Adductor Hallucis is an intrinsic muscle of the foot located in Plantar Layer III. The muscles located in Plantar Layer III are:

• Flexor hallucis brevis
• Flexor digiti minimi pedis
• Adductor hallucis

The adductor hallucis has two heads: Oblique Head and Transverse Head.

ATTACHMENTS:

• Metatarsals to the big toe (toe #1).
  • The oblique head attaches proximally onto metatarsals #2-4 and the distal tendon of the fibularis longus.
  • The transverse head attaches proximally into plantar metatarsophalangeal ligaments.
  • The distal attachment of the adductor hallucis is onto the lateral side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the big toe.

ACTIONS:

• Adducts the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint.
• Flexes the big toe at the metatarsophalangeal joint.

NOTES:

1. A tight (overly facilitated) adductor hallucis can contribute to hallux valgus, known in lay terms as a bunion.
2. There is an adductor pollicis muscle in the hand that has two heads: oblique head and transverse head.