Lab 10.1: Reflection of the Anterolateral Abdominal Wall

Question 1

layers of the abdominal wall

Answer 1

from superficial to deep:

1. skin
2. superficial (Camper’s) fascia (loose CT with variable amount of adipose)
3. deep (Scarpa’s) fascia (dense CT)
4. layers of skeletal muscle
5. transversals fascia
6. extraperitoneal fascia
7. parietal peritoneum

Question 2

skeletal muscle of abdominal wall

Answer 2

anterolateral abdominal wall includes 3 broad flat muscles arranged in layers (fleshy and contractile posterolaterally, aponeurotic sheets forming the lines alba anteriorly)
rectus abdominis (vertical muscle on either side of the line alba) enclosed by rector sheath

Question 3

3 flat muscles of abdominal wall orientation

Answer 3

external oblique: inferomedially
internal oblique: superomedially
transversus abdominis: horizontally

Question 4

rectus abdominis

Answer 4

long, paired muscle on either side of the linea alba
extend from costal margin above to pubic crest below
separated into 3 or 4 segments by tendinous intersections
bordered by linea semilunaris along the lateral borders

Question 5

falciform ligament

Answer 5

remnant of the ventral mesentery that attaches the liver to the underside of the diaphragm and the deep surface of the abdominal wall as far inferiorly as the umbilicus
located slight right of the linea alba

Question 6

round ligament

Answer 6

aka ligamentum teres
found in the free edge of the falciform ligament
it is the obliterated umbilical vein which brought oxygenated blood from the placenta to the fetus

Question 7

3 folds of peritoneum on the internal surface of the anterior abdominal wall

Answer 7

median umbilical fold: in the midline
medial umbilical fold: bilaterally-paired and lateral to the median umbilical fold
lateral umbilical fold: bilaterally-paired and lateral to the medial umbilical folds
these folds of the peritoneum are distinct and reliable landmarks used in laparoscopic surgeries of the inguinal region

Question 8

median umbilical fold

Answer 8

in the midline
extends from the umbilicus to the apex of the bladder
contains the urachus, a remnant of the allantoic duct

Question 9

urachus

Answer 9

a remnant of the allantoic duct

Question 10

medial umbilical folds

Answer 10

lateral to the median umbilical fold, bilaterally-paired
run in the anterior abdominal wall to the umbilicus
contains the remnants of the umbilical arteries (in the fetus, they returned deoxygenated blood to the placenta)

Question 11

umbilical arteries

Answer 11

in the fetus, they returned deoxygenated blood to the placenta

Question 12

lateral umbilical folds

Answer 12

lateral to the medial umbilical fold, bilaterally-paired

contain the inferior epigastric arteries and veins (supply blood to the anterior abdominal wall)

Question 13

deep inguinal ring

Answer 13

a shallow depression into the parietal peritoneum just lateral to there lateral umbilical fold and superior to the inguinal ligament
in males, vas deferens and testicular neuromuscular bundle may be seen through the parietal peritoneum approaching the deep ring