Abdominal Wall Anatomy

Question 1

Which three bones make up the hip bones?

Answer 1

Ischium
Pubis
Ilium

Question 2

What is the inguinal ligament?

Answer 2

A strong band of tendinous tissue that runs from the anterior superior iliac spine to the pubic tubercle.

Question 3

Which structures pass between the inguinal ligament and the underlying bone?

Answer 3

Femoral vein, artery and nerve (medially)

Belly of the psoas muscle, iliacus muscles (laterally)

Question 4

Which muscles make up the posterior abdominal wall?

Answer 4

Erector spinae
Quatratus lumborum
Psoas major
Iliacus
Iliopsoas

Question 5

Which muscles make up the anterior abdominal wall?

Answer 5

Rectus abdominus
Transversus abdominus
Internal oblique
External oblique

Question 6

Which structures make up the inguinal canal?

Answer 6

Lacunar ligament (triangular extension of inguinal ligament)
Conjoint ligament
Superficial inguinal ring
Deep inguinal ring

Question 7

What is the rectus sheath and which structures is it formed from?

Answer 7

Fibrous tissue that enclosed the rectus abdominus and pyramidalis muscles
Formed by the aponeuroses of the three flat muscles

Question 8

What is the name of the line below which there is no posterior rectus sheath?

Answer 8

Arcuate line

Question 9

What is the name of the strip of tendon that runs down the midline of the rectus abdominis?
What about the horizontal fibrous strips?

Answer 9

Linea alba

Tendinous intersections

Question 10

The aponeurosis of which muscle forms part of the inguinal ligament?

Answer 10

The aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle

Question 11

Which two fascia cover the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall?

Answer 11

Psoas fasia (overlies psoas)
Thoracolumbar fascia
 - superior
 - middle
 - anterior