Corpus: Abdominal muscles

The abdominal musculature is the skeletal musculature localised on the abdominal wall and in the deep abdominal region.

The abdominal muscles are divided into the superficial and deep abdominal muscles. The superficial abdominal muscles lie ventral to the abdominal cavity on the outside of the trunk wall. The deep abdominal muscles are localised in front of the spine.

Superficial abdominal muscles[Bearbeiten]

The superficial abdominal muscles (also: "abdominal wall muscles") are divided into a lateral and an anterior muscle group.

• Lateral abdominal muscles
  • Musculus obliquus externus abdominis
  • Musculus obliquus internus abdominis
  • Musculus transversus abdominis
• Anterior or middle abdominal muscles
  • rectus abdominis muscle
  • pyramidalis muscle

Deep abdominal muscles[Bearbeiten]

• Musculus quadratus lumborum
• iliopsoas muscle

Note: The iliopsoas muscle is not categorised as an abdominal muscle by all authors.

The broad lateral abdominal muscles merge into broad aponeuroses in the direction of the median line and then intertwine in the median line. This gives rise to the linea alba, a cord of connective tissue extending from the xiphoid process of the sternum to the symphysis pubica.

See also: Rectus sheath