Abdominal wall

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Abdominal wall
Scheme body cavities-en.svg
Body cavities
Gray399.svg
Diagram of sheath of rectus above the arcuate line.
Details
Identifiers
Latin paries abdominalis
MeSH D034861
FMA 10429
Anatomical terminology

In anatomy, the abdominal wall represents the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall is split into the anterolateral and posterior walls. [1]

Contents

There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the visceral peritoneum, which covers many of the abdominal organs (most of the large and small intestines, for example), and the parietal peritoneum—which covers the visceral peritoneum below it, the extraperitoneal fat, the transversalis fascia, the internal and external oblique and transversus abdominis aponeurosis, and a layer of fascia, which has different names according to what it covers (e.g., transversalis, psoas fascia). [2]

In medical vernacular, the term 'abdominal wall' most commonly refers to the layers composing the anterior abdominal wall which, in addition to the layers mentioned above, includes the three layers of muscle: the transversus abdominis (transverse abdominal muscle), the internal (obliquus internus) and the external oblique (obliquus externus). [1] [2] [3]

Structure

The contour of abdominal wall is roughly hexagonal. Its superior border is bounded by the coastal margins, lateral borders by mid-axillary lines, and inferior borders bounded by the anterior half of the iliac crest, inguinal ligaments, pubic crest, and pubic symphysis. [4]

Layers

In human anatomy, the layers of the anterolateral abdominal wall are (from superficial to deep): [1] [2]

Inner surface

The surface contains several ligaments separated by fossae: [5]

Ligament/foldRemnant ofLateral fossaHernia
median umbilical ligament urachus supravesical fossa supravesical hernia (rare)
medial umbilical ligament umbilical artery medial inguinal fossa direct inguinal hernia
lateral umbilical fold inferior epigastric vessels lateral inguinal fossa indirect inguinal hernia

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inguinal canal</span> Human abdominal anatomy

The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall on each side of the body, which in males, convey the spermatic cords and in females, the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males.

Abdominal muscles cover the anterior and lateral abdominal region and meet at the anterior midline. These muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall can be divided into four groups: the external obliques, the internal obliques, the transversus abdominis, and the rectus abdominis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inguinal ligament</span> Band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine

The inguinal ligament, also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the inguinal canal through which an indirect inguinal hernia may develop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transverse abdominal muscle</span> Muscle of the abdominal area

The transverse abdominal muscle (TVA), also known as the transverse abdominis, transversalis muscle and transversus abdominis muscle, is a muscle layer of the anterior and lateral abdominal wall, deep to the internal oblique muscle. It is thought by most fitness instructors to be a significant component of the core.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdomen</span> Part of the body between the chest and pelvis

The abdomen is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal cavity. In arthropods, it is the posterior tagma of the body; it follows the thorax or cephalothorax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior epigastric artery</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the inferior epigastric artery is an artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein; inferiorly, these two inferior epigastric vessels together travel within the lateral umbilical fold The inferior epigastric artery then traverses the arcuate line of rectus sheath to enter the rectus sheath, then anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery within the rectus sheath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumbar plexus</span> Web of nerves in the lower spine

The lumbar plexus is a web of nerves in the lumbar region of the body which forms part of the larger lumbosacral plexus. It is formed by the divisions of the first four lumbar nerves (L1-L4) and from contributions of the subcostal nerve (T12), which is the last thoracic nerve. Additionally, the ventral rami of the fourth lumbar nerve pass communicating branches, the lumbosacral trunk, to the sacral plexus. The nerves of the lumbar plexus pass in front of the hip joint and mainly support the anterior part of the thigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pubis (bone)</span> Most forward-facing of the three main regions making up the os coxa

In vertebrates, the pubis or pubic bone forms the lower and anterior part of each side of the hip bone. The pubis is the most forward-facing of the three bones that make up the hip bone. The left and right pubic bones are each made up of three sections, a superior ramus, inferior ramus, and a body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conjoint tendon</span> Medial part of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal

The conjoint tendon is a sheath of connective tissue formed from the lower part of the common aponeurosis of the abdominal internal oblique muscle and the transversus abdominis muscle, joining the muscle to the pelvis. It forms the medial part of the posterior wall of the inguinal canal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falciform ligament</span> Ligament attaching the liver to the front body wall

In human anatomy, the falciform ligament is a ligament that attaches the liver to the front body wall and divides the liver into the left lobe and right lobe. The falciform ligament is a broad and thin fold of peritoneum, its base being directed downward and backward and its apex upward and forward. It droops down from the hilum of the liver.

In human anatomy, the inguinal region refers to either the groin or the lower lateral regions of the abdomen. It may also refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transversalis fascia</span> Aponeurosis between the transverse abdominal muscle and the extraperitoneal fat

The transversalis fascia is the fascial lining of the anterolateral abdominal wall situated between the inner surface of the transverse abdominal muscle, and the preperitoneal fascia. It is directly continuous with the iliac fascia, the internal spermatic fascia, and pelvic fascia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iliac crest</span> Top border of the hip

The crest of the ilium is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superiolateral margin of the greater pelvis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arcuate line of rectus sheath</span>

The arcuate line of rectus sheath is a line of demarcation corresponding to the free inferior margin of the posterior layer of the rectus sheath inferior to which only the anterior layer of the rectus sheath is present and the rectus abdominis muscle is therefore in direct contact with the transversalis fascia. The arcuate line is concave inferior-wards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deep circumflex iliac artery</span> Artery in the pelvis

The deep circumflex iliac artery is an artery in the pelvis that travels along the iliac crest of the pelvic bone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rectus sheath</span> Laminas around abdominal muscles

The rectus sheath is a tough fibrous compartment formed by the aponeuroses of the transverse abdominal muscle, and the internal and external oblique muscles. It contains the rectus abdominis and pyramidalis muscles, as well as vessels and nerves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aponeurosis of the abdominal external oblique muscle</span>

The aponeurosis of the abdominal external oblique muscle is a thin but strong membranous structure, the fibers of which are directed downward and medially.

The lumbar fascia is the lumbar portion of the thoracolumbar fascia. It consists of three fascial layers - posterior, middle, and anterior - that enclose two muscular compartments. The anterior and middle layers occur only in the lumbar region, whereas the posterior layer extends superiorly to the inferior part of the neck, and the inferiorly to the dorsal surface of the sacrum. The quadratus lumborum is contained in the anterior muscular compartment, and the erector spinae in the posterior compartment. Psoas major lies anterior to the anterior layer. Various superficial muscles of the posterior thorax and abdomen arise from the posterior layer - namely the latissimus dorsi, and serratus posterior inferior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaginal support structures</span> Structures that maintain the position of the vagina within the pelvic cavity

The vaginal support structures are those muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, membranes and fascia, of the pelvic floor that maintain the position of the vagina within the pelvic cavity and allow the normal functioning of the vagina and other reproductive structures in the female. Defects or injuries to these support structures in the pelvic floor leads to pelvic organ prolapse. Anatomical and congenital variations of vaginal support structures can predispose a woman to further dysfunction and prolapse later in life. The urethra is part of the anterior wall of the vagina and damage to the support structures there can lead to incontinence and urinary retention.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.; Agur, Anne M.R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 180–186. ISBN   978-1-4511-1945-9.
  2. 1 2 3 Drake, Richard L.; Vogl, A. Wayne; Mitchell, Adam W. M. (2015). Gray's Anatomy For Students. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone. pp. 259–260. ISBN   978-0-7020-5131-9.
  3. "Duke Anatomy - Lab 5: Anterior Abdominal Body Wall & Abdominal Viscera". web.duke.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-02.
  4. Mahadevan, Vishy (June 2009). "Anatomy of the anterior abdominal wall and groin". Surgery (Oxford). 27 (6): 251–254. doi:10.1016/j.mpsur.2009.03.002.
  5. "Morphologic Variations of the Umbilical Ring, Umbilical Ligaments and Ligamentum Teres Hepatis". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-09-02.