Adductor hiatus

The adductor hiatus is an opening between the adductor magnus muscle and the femur. It is also known as the hiatus magnus.

Gross Anatomy

• adductor hiatus represents the distal end of the adductor canal

• it is the anatomical landmark where the femoral artery and vein transition to become the popliteal artery and vein, respectively

Clinical Significance

Supracondylar femoral fractures can result in femoral and/or popliteal artery damage and subsequent impairment of lower limb blood supply ¹.

The majority of femoropopliteal occlusions occur at the adductor hiatus ². One uncommon example of this is popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, which causes lower limb claudication and ischemia secondary to popliteal artery compression ³.