By its posterior surface with the capsule of the hip joint, and with the obturator externus and adductor brevis, the obturator artery and vein being interposed.
While similar to its neighbouring adductors, it is formed by separation from the superficial layer of the obturator externus, and is thus not ontogentically related to the adductors.
It distributes branches to the obturator externus, pectineus, adductores, and gracilis muscle, and anastomoses with the posterior branch of the obturator artery and with the medial femoral circumflex artery.
Intercostalis externus labeled at bottom center.
The supernumerary muscle described above originates from the superior fasciculus, while an anomalous fasciculus also derived from the obturator externus originates from the main belly.
Some regard them as a part of the sphincter ani externus.
Moving from the inferior-most to the superior-most, they are: the tendon of the obturator externus muscle, the obturator internus, the superior gemellus and inferior gemellus.
Muscles like the adductor mandibulae externus medialis, which are weak in most crocodilians, became more important as jaw closers and were greatly enlarged.
