Abdomen - Surface Anatomy Flashcards
Where is the pubic tubercle?
Where is the pubic crest?
Pubic tubercle - It may be identified as a small protuberance along the superior surface of the pubis
The pubic crest is the name given to the ridge on the superior surface of the pubic bones medial to the pubic tubercle
What is the surface anatomy of the xiphisternal joint?
The xiphisternal junction is identified by feeling the lower edge of the body of the sternum, and it lies opposite the body of the ninth thoracic vertebra.
What is the costal margin and what is it formed by?
Costal Margin
The costal margin is the curved lower margin of the thoracic wall and is formed in front by the cartilages of the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs
What is the Iliac crest? Where does it end?
- Where does its highest point lie?
- What is the level of the pubic tubercle?
Iliac Crest
- The iliac crest can be felt along its entire length and ends in front at the anterior superior iliac spine and behind at the posterior superior iliac spine.
- Its highest point lies opposite the body of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
- About 2 in. (5 cm) posterior to the anterior superior iliac spine, the outer margin projects to form the tubercle of the crest.
- The tubercle lies at the level of the body of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
What are the attachment points of the inguinal ligament?
What is the difference between the mid-inguinal point and the midpoint of the inguinal ligament?
- What is found at the mid-inguinal point?
- What is found at the midpoint of the inguinal ligament?
What is the site of a direct inguinal hernia known as?
Where is McBurneys point?
What is located here?
- The appendix lies in the right lower quadrant.
- The base of the appendix is situated one third of the way up the line, joining the ASIS to the umbilicus = McBurney’s point.
What is the surface landmark of the:
- Umbilicus?
- Site for what?
- Dermatome?
- Linea alba?
- What does this become in pregnancy?
- Linea semilunaris
- What type of hernia occurs here?
- Arcuate line?
- What happens below this?
- What forms the appearance of the six pack?
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Umbilicus – Variable position (approx. level with iliac crest) depending on degree of obesity
- Site of umbilical hernia & T10 dermatome.
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Linea alba - Midline - midline laparotomy gives good exposure but may result in incisional hernia.
- Turns into linea nigra in pregnancy.
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Linea semilunaris - Lateral edge of rectus sheath.
- Possible site of Spigelian hernia.
-
Arcuate line – 5-6cm below umbilicus
- no posterior rectus sheath below this point.
- 3 tendinous intersections → Six-pack appearance in upper abdomen – anterior rectus sheath attaches to rectus abdominis muscle transversely in 3 areas on each side.
What is the superficial inguinal ring? Where is it situated?
Where is the deep inguinal ring located?
The superficial inguinal ring = a triangular aperture in the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle and is situated above and medial to the pubic tubercle.
The deep/internal inguinal ring is located just above the midpoint of the inguinal ligament and lateral to the epigastric vessels.
What is the Saphenofemoral junction?
Where is it located?
Saphenofemoral junction = the site of great saphenous vein passing through cribriform fascia (saphenous opening) to reach femoral vein.
- Located 4cm inferior & lateral to pubic tubercle.
- What is the horizontal subcostal plane? What vertebral level does it lie at?
- What is the
The horizontal subcostal plane joins the lowest point of the costal margin on each side—that is, the 10th costal cartilage.
This plane lies at the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
What is the intercristal plane?
What is it used as a surface landmark for?
The inter cristal plane passes across the highest points on the iliac crests and lies on the level of the body of the 4th lumbar vertebra.
This is commonly used as a sur- face landmark when performing a lumbar spinal tap
What is the intertubular plane?
What vertebral level does it lie at?
Intertubercular Plane = The horizontal intertubercular plane joins the tubercles on the iliac crests and lies at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebra.
Define the following planes.
Which 2 planes divide the abdomen into quadrants?
Which 3 planes divides the abdomen into 9 regions?
Give the planes and the regions of the abdomen.
What is the Transpyloric plane?
What vertebral level does it lie at?
Transpyloric Plane
- The horizontal transpyloric plane passes through the tips of the ninth costal cartilages on the two sides = the point where the lateral margin of the rectus abdominis (linea semilunaris) crosses the costal margin.
- It lies at the level of the body of the 1st lumbar vertebra.
What is the Transpyloric plane also known as?
What is it a midway point between?
The transpyloric plane, also known as Addison’s plane, is an imaginary axial plane located midway between the jugular notch and superior border of pubic symphysis, at approximately the level of L1 vertebral body.
Which structures lie at the transpyloric plane (L1)?
= 12
Structures approximately on this line:
- End of spinal cord
- L1 vertebral body
- Origin of superior mesenteric artery
- Origin of portal vein
- Neck of pancreas
- Pylorus of the stomach
- Second part of duodenum
- Sphincter of Oddi
- Hilum of each kidney
- Duodenojejunal flexure
- Fundus of gall bladder
- Tips of ninth costal cartilages
Surface Anatomy:
Where is the fundus of the gallbladder?
Where is the spleen located?
The fundus of the gallbladder lies opposite the tip of the right 9th costal cartilage—that is, where the lateral edge of the right rectus abdominis muscle crosses the costal margin → At the transpyloric plane.
The spleen is situated in the left upper quadrant and lies under cover of the 9th, 10th, and 11th ribs
What is the surface antomy of the kidneys?
On the back, the kidneys extend from the T12-L3.
Kidney hili = opposite L1 (transpyloric plane)
