Abdominal wall

Question 1

Why is the abdominal wall important?

Answer 1

Supports, protects and contains abdominal viscera + wall muscles are importantly for respiration

Question 2

Abdominal wall muscles role in respiration?

Answer 2

Contraction assists in quiet and forced expiration by pushing viscera upwards and in coughing and vomiting

Question 3

What are abdominal wall muscles involved in?

Answer 3

Actions that increases intraabdominal pressure eg childbirth urination and defecation

Question 4

What are the layers making up the abdominal wall

Answer 4

Skin, subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia, muscles, deep fascia, parietal peritoneum
The wall is divided into two regions:
Anterolateral abdominal wall and posterior abdominal wall

Question 5

What are the 4 main muscles of the anterolateral group?

Answer 5

3 flat muscles - fibres run transversely around abdomen, they meet in large flat tendon at the midline: external obliqu, internal oblique, transversus abdominis

1 vertical muscle near midline anteriorly: recuts abdominis

Question 6

External oblique

Answer 6

Most superficial flat muscle
Lies immediately deep to superficial fascia
Fibres run inferomedially

Question 7

Internal oblique

Answer 7

Deep, smaller and thinner than external oblique
Fibres run superimedially

Question 8

Transversus abdominis

Answer 8

Deepest of flat muscles
Fibres run transversely around abdomen

Question 9

Rectus abdominis

Answer 9

Long flat muscle, extending vertically up entire length of anterior abdomen
A paired muscle
Intersected by 3-4 transverse fibrous bands (tendinous intersections)

Question 10

Rectus sheath

Answer 10

Encases Rectus abdominis
Formed by aponeuroses of 3 flat muscles

Question 11

Posterior abdominal wall

Answer 11

Formed by upper part of pelvic bones and lumbar vertebrae

Question 13

What muscles fill spaces left by bony framework?

Answer 13

Psoas major and minor
Quadratus lumborum
Iliacus