Anterior abdominal wall
muscles
Jothisree.V
III MBBS
Layers of anterior abdominal wall
The anterior abdominal wall is firm and elastic. It consists
of
eight layers. From superficial to deep, these are:
1.Skin
2.Superficial fascia
3.External oblique muscle
4.Internal oblique muscle
5.Transversus abdominis muscle
6.Fascia transversalis
7.Extraperitoneal tissue
8.Parietal layer of peritoneum
Muscles of the anterior abdominal wall
The anterior abdominal wall consists of five pairs of
Muscles – five on either side of midline.
1.Three flat muscles
2.Two vertical muscles – one larger and one small
Three flat muscles are: Two vertical muscles are:
• External oblique muscle • Rectus abdominis
• Internal oblique muscle • Pyramidalis
• Transverse abdominis muscle
External Oblique Muscle
Origin
• Arises from eight fleshy slips from outersurface of lower eight ribs
Insertion
• Posterior most fibres runs vertically downward – outer lip of
anterior 2/3rd of iliac crest
• Remaining fibers runs downward, forward & medially to end in
a broad aponeurosis which is inserted to linea alba.
Nerve supply
• Anterior primary rami of lower six thoracic spinal nerves ( T7-
T12)
Internal oblique muscle
Origin
a. The lateral two-thirds of the inguinal ligament
b. The anterior two-thirds of the intermediate area of
the iliac crest
c. The thoracolumbar fascia
Insertion
Ends in an aponeurosis through which it is inserted into the seventh, eighth
and ninth costal cartilages, the xiphoid process, linea alba, pubic crest and
the pectineal line of the pubis
Nerve supply
Lower six thoracic nerves and the first lumbar nerve.
TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS MUSCLE
Origin
The muscle has a fleshy origin from:
1. The lateral one-third of the inguinal ligament.
2. The anterior two-thirds of the inner lip of the iliac crest.
3. The thoracolumbar fascia
4.The inner surfaces of the lower six costal cartilages.
The fibres are directed horizontally forwards.
Insertion
The fibres end in a broad aponeurosis which is inserted into the xiphoid
process, the linea alba, the pubic crest,and the pectineal line of the pubis
The lowest fibres of the muscle fuse with the lowest fibres of the internal
oblique to form the conjoint tendon
Nerve Supply
Lower six thoracic nerves, and first lumbar nerve.
Rectus Abdominis Muscle
• It is a long, flat strap muscle, which extends vertically upward along the linea
alba from the pubic symphysis below to the costal margin above.
• It widens as it ascends from the pubic symphysis to the costal margin, thus it is
wider above and narrows below.
Origin
It arises by two tendinous heads:
1. Medial head arises from the anterior surface of the pubic symphysis.
2. Lateral head arises from the lateral part of the pubic crest and pubic
tubercle.
Insertion
On the front of the wall of the thorax, along a horizontalline passing laterally from the
xiphoid process,and cutting in that order, the 7th, 6th and 5th costal cartilages.
Nerve Supply
Lower six or seven thoracic nerves
Action
• Flexion of the trunk on the pelvis.
Pyramidalis
• Pyramidalis is rudimentary in human beings.
• It is a small triangular muscle, lying anterior to the lower part of
the rectus abdominis muscle within the rectus sheath
Origin
It arises from the front of the body of pubis and anterior pubic ligament.
Insertion
It is inserted into the linea alba midway between the umbilicus and the pubic
symphysis.
Nerve Supply
By the subcostal nerve (T12).
Action
It tenses the linea alba.
STRUCTURES DERIVED FROM FLAT MUSCLES
1. Inguinal ligament.
2. Conjoint tendon.
3. Cremaster muscle.
Inguinal ligament
Lower-free border of external oblique aponeurosis stretching
between anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle
Conjoint Tendon (Falx Inguinalis)
Formed by the fusion of lower aponeurotic fibre of
internal oblique and transversus abdominis
muscles
Cremaster Muscle
• The cremaster muscle consists of a series of loops of skeletal muscle fibres
joined by loose areolar tissue, the cremaster fascia.
• The loops of cremaster muscle and fascia form the covering around the
spermatic cord and testis
• These muscle loops are derived from lower arched fibres of internal oblique
• The cremaster muscle is supplied by sympathetic fibres from L1 and L2
spinal segments through the genital branch of genitofemoral nerve and hence
not under voluntary control.
Thank you….
