Anterolateral abdominal wall

Question 1

What is the superior border of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 1

Xiphoid process of sternum

Costal cartilages of ribs 7-10

Question 2

What is the inferior border of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 2

Iliac crest

Inguinal ligament

Pubic symphysis

Question 3

What are the layers of the anterolateral abdominal wall, from superficial to deep?

Answer 3

Skin

Superficial fascia

Muscles and associated fascia layers

Extraperitoneal fat

Parietal perioneum

Question 4

What is the superficial fascia made up of above the umbilicus?

Answer 4

Connective tissue

Question 5

What happens to the superficial fascia below the umbilicus?

Answer 5

It splits into two layers

Question 6

What are the two layers of superficial fascia below the umbilicus?

Answer 6

Superficial fatty layer

Deep membranous layer

Question 7

What is the difference between the compositions of the superficial fatty layer and the deep membranous layer?

Answer 7

Superficial fatty layer contains largely fat

Deep membranous layer contains more collagen and elastic fibres

Question 8

What are the different groups of muscles in the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 8

Flat muscles

Vertical muscles

Question 9

Where are the flat muscles located in the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 9

Laterally

Question 10

What are the flat muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall, from superficial to deep?

Answer 10

External oblique

Internal oblique

Transversus abdominis

Question 11

What direction do the fibres of external oblique run in?

Answer 11

Infero-medial direction (hands in pockets)

Question 12

What does the inferior part of the external oblique form?

Answer 12

Inguinal ligament

Question 13

What direction do the fibres of internal oblique run in?

Answer 13

Supero-medial

perpendicular to external oblique fibres

Question 14

What are the actions of the external and internal oblique muscles?

Answer 14

Compress abdomen

Flex trunk

Rotate trunk

Question 15

What direction do the fibres of transversus abdominis run in?

Answer 15

Horizontal

Question 16

What is the action of the transversus abdominis musce?

Answer 16

Compresses abdomen

Question 17

Where are the neurovascular structures supplying the anterolateral abdominal wall located?

Answer 17

Between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle

Question 18

What happens to the flat muscles as they approach the anterior midline?

Answer 18

From aponeuroses - flattened tendons

Question 19

Where exactly do the flat muscles form aponeuroses as they approach the anterior midline?

Answer 19

Medial to the mid-clavicular line

Question 20

What happens to the aponeuroses of the flat muscles at the mid-clavicular line?

Answer 20

Fuse together

to form linea semilunaris

Question 21

What is the name of the aponeuroses formed by the flat muscles medial to the mid-clavicular line?

Answer 21

Rectus sheath

Question 22

What happens to the rectus sheath in the anterior midline?

Answer 22

Rectus sheath on each side fuses with the other side

forming the linea alba

Question 23

What does the linea alba run between?

Answer 23

The xiphisternum

to the pubic symphysis

Question 24

What is the vertical muscle of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 24

Rectus abdominis

Question 25

Where is the rectus abdominis located in the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 25

Anteriorly

Question 26

What separates the right and left rectus abdominis muscles?

Answer 26

Linea alba

Question 27

What is the rectus abdominis muscle contained in?

Answer 27

The rectus sheath

Question 28

How does the rectus sheath attach to the rectus abdominis muscle?

Answer 28

Anterior part of rectus sheath attaches to the anterior surface of rectus abdominis at three horizontal tendinous intersections

Question 29

What are the actions of rectus abdominis?

Answer 29

Compresses abdomen Flexes trunk

Question 30

What are the different walls of the rectus sheath?

Answer 30

Anterior wall that is anterior to rectus abdominis Posterior wall that is posterior to rectus abdominis

Question 31

What is the anterior wall of the rectus sheath made up of?

Answer 31

Aponeurosis of external oblique Half of aponeorosis of internal oblique

Question 32

What is the posterior wall of the rectus sheath made up of?

Answer 32

Half of aponeurosis of internal oblique Aponeurosis of transversus abdominis

Question 33

Where does the arcuate line run?

Answer 33

Horizontal line midway between umbilicus and pubic symphysis

Question 34

What happens to the rectus sheath at the arcuate line?

Answer 34

Anterior wall of rectus sheath is made up of aponeurosis of all three flat muscles Posterior wall of rectus sheath is made up of transversalis fascia

Question 35

What happens to the layers of the abdominal wall at the umbilicus?

Answer 35

They fuse together

Question 36

What are the functions of the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 36

Protect and support abdominal viscera Compress abdomen, increase intra-abdominal pressure Assist in excretion of substances from abdomen Assists in forceful expiration Can also stretch to accommodate increased volume of abdominal viscera Moves the trunk