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The abdominal wall can be divided into two sections: anterolateral and posterior abdominal walls. This complex structure consists of numerous layers, from superficial to deep: skin, superficial fascia, muscles and their respective fasciae, and peritoneum.
Your abdominal muscles are strong bands of muscles lining the walls of your abdomen (trunk of your body). They’re located toward the front of your body, between your ribs and your pelvis. Your abdominal muscles have many important roles, including supporting your trunk, helping with movement and holding your organs in place.
The muscles of the abdomen are made up of the muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall and the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall. These muscles work together to protect the internal organs (viscera) by covering them completely.
Muscles of the Abdominal Wall. The muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall can be divided into two main groups: Flat muscles – three flat muscles, situated laterally on either side of the abdomen. Vertical muscles – two vertical muscles, situated near the mid-line of the body.
An abdominal wall is formed of skin, fascia, and muscle and encases the abdominal cavity and viscera. The abdominal muscles support the trunk, allow movement, hold organs in place, and are distensible (being able accommodate dynamic changes in the volume of abdominal contents).
Posterior muscles include psoas major and quadratus lumborum bilaterally. The abdominal muscles contribute to movements of the trunk, including flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation.
The anatomical core of the anterolateral abdominal wall is mainly comprised of 4 paired symmetrical muscles. Classically the anterolateral abdominal wall has been described as separate layers from superficial to deep as follows: Skin. Subcutaneous tissues (further divided into the more superficial Camper’s fascia and the deeper Scarpa’s fascia)
Collectively the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall, in conjunction with the muscles of the lateral abdominal wall, form a sturdy but flexible boundary for the abdominal cavity which protects the abdominal viscera. They also compress the viscera to maintain and increase intra-abdominal pressure.
The five muscles in the abdominal wall are divided into two groups: (1) two vertical muscles situated near the midline of the body and (2) three flat muscles located laterally and stacked on top of each other.
On the flanks of the body, medial to the rectus abdominis, the abdominal wall is composed of three layers. The external oblique muscles form the superficial layer, while the internal oblique muscles form the middle layer, and the transverses abdominus forms the deepest layer.