Anterior abdominal wall - anterolateral abdominal muscles

Question 1

What is the abdomen divided into?

Answer 1

1. Quadrants.
2. 9 regions - defined by two vertical and two horizontal lines.

Question 2

What does the vertical line on each side correspond to?

Answer 2

Midclavicular line.

Question 3

What does the mid-clavicular line when extended reach to?

Answer 3

Mid-inguinal point.

Question 4

What is the mid-inguinal point?

Answer 4

Point on the inguinal ligament - midway between the pubic symphysis and the ASIS.

Question 5

Where is the lower transverse line?

Answer 5

Between the tubercles of the iliac crest - intertubercular plane.

Question 6

Where is the upper transverse line?

Answer 6

Midway between the jugular notch and the top of the pubic symphsys - transpyloric plane.

Question 7

What are the regions of the abdomen?

Answer 7

1. Right hypochondriac.
2. Epigastric.
3. Left hypochondriac.
4. Right lumbar.
5. Umbilical.
6. Left lumbar.
7. Right iliac.
8. Hypogastric/suprapubic.
9. Left iliac.

Question 8

What are the three muscles in the flank of the abdomen?

Answer 8

1. External oblique.
2. Internal oblique.
3. Transversum abdominis.

Question 9

What happens to these three muscles when they reach the midline?

Answer 9

The fuse ventrally to form the recuts abdominis muscle.

Question 10

What is the origin of external oblique?

Answer 10

Comes from each of the lower eight ribs:
- Lower 4 interlock with fibres of latissimus Doris.
- Upper 4 interlock with fibres of serrated anterior.

Question 11

What is the pathway and insertion of external oblique?

Answer 11

Fans out into aponeurosis - wide insertion.

Question 12

What are the borders of external oblique muscle?

Answer 12

1. Posterior muscular.
2. Upper aponeurotic.
3. Lower aponeurotic.

Question 13

What borders of the external oblique lie free?

Answer 13

Posterior muscular and upper aponeurotic.

Question 14

What is the accurate line?

Answer 14

Curved line that that sits at the ASIS level/just above.

Question 15

What is inferior to the accurate line?

Answer 15

The rectus abdominis muscle lays directly on top of transversalis fascia. The aponeurosis of all three muscles merge and sit superficially on top.

Question 16

What is superior to the arcuate line?

Answer 16

1. Anterior layer of aponeurosis - internal oblique and external oblique.
2. Posterior layer of aponeurosis - internal oblique and transversalis fascia.

Question 17

How are the aponeurotic fibres directed?

Answer 17

Obliquely downwards and forwards.

Question 18

What is the aponeurosis attached to?

Answer 18

Pubic tubercle - it also interdigitates with each other above the pubic symphsysis and then crosses the front of the rectus abdominis to the whole length of the lines alba up to the xiphisternum.

Question 19

What is the pathway of the free upper border of the aponeurosis?

Answer 19

Extends from fifth rib to the xiphsternum. Runs horizontally.

Question 20

What is the pathway of the lower border of the aponeurosis?

Answer 20

Lays between ASIS and pubic tubercle, forms the in guitar ligament.

Question 21

What is the posterior border of the muscle?

Answer 21

Free. It forms the anterior boundary of the lumbar triangle (of petit).

Question 22

What are the borders of the lumbar triangle of petit?

Answer 22

1. Internal oblique.
2. Anterior border of latissimus dorsi.
3. Iliac crest.

Question 23

What is the significance of the lumbar triangle of petit?

Answer 23

Lumbar hernia.