Groin

In human anatomy, the groin (the adjective is inguinal, as in inguinal canal) areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs (thighs), on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial (adductor) compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles. These hip adductor muscles that make up the groin consist of the adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, gracilis, and pectineus. These groin muscles adduct the thigh (bring the femur and knee closer to the midline). The groin is innervated by the obturator nerve, with two exceptions: the pectineus muscle is innervated by the femoral nerve, and the hamstring portion of adductor magnus is innervated by the tibial nerve. This difference in innervation has caused some dispute whether or not the pectineus belongs to this groin and adduction group even though it still adducts the thigh.

For vascular surgeons the groin is the preferred site for incisions to enter a catheter into the vascular system.

In the groin, underneath the skin, are some lymph glands that play a role in the immune system. These can be swollen due to certain diseases, the most common one being a simple infection, and, less likely, from cancer.