Abdominal Wall & inguinal canal

Question 1

What is the abdominal cavity bounded by?

Answer 1

Superior: Thoracic diaphragm
Inferior: Pelvic Brim & superior pelvic aperture

Question 2

What are the structures of the abdominal wall?

Answer 2

Skin & Fascia 
Skeletal Structures
Muscles of the anterior wall
Muscles of the posterior wall
Transversalis fascia
Extraperitoneal fat
Parietal peritoneum

Question 3

What are the skeletal structures of the abdominal wall?

Answer 3

Thoracic cage
Hip bones
Pelvic brim/superior pelvic aperture of lesser or true pelvis
lumbar vertebrae

Question 4

What are the anterior muscles of the abdominal wall?

Answer 4

Rectus Abdominis x 2

Question 5

What are the anterolateral muscles of the abdominal wall?

Answer 5

• External obliquus abdominis x 2
• Internal obliquus abdominis x 2
• Transversus abdominis x 2

Question 6

why is the inguinal ligament an important plane of reference?

Answer 6

It separates the pelvic abdominal region from the leg

Question 7

what is the most inferior point of the abdomen?

Answer 7

The inguinal ligament

Question 8

What is the role of rectus abdominis?

Answer 8

Flexion and postural

Question 9

tendinous intersections-where are they located?

Answer 9

They are located on the Rectus Abdominis and are apart of the Retus Sheath.

Question 10

What is the opening of the transversus abdominis called?

Answer 10

The Deep Inguinal Ring

Question 11

What are the supportive structures of the Abdominal wall?

Answer 11

• Inguinal Ligament
• Transversespinalis Fascia
• Extraperitoneal Fat
• perietal peritoneum

Question 12

What are the features of the male inguinal Canal?

Answer 12

4-5cm long

• extends through anterolateral muscles of abdominal wall
• contains a spermatic cord

Question 13

What is the superficial inguinal ring?

Answer 13

Interformedial opening in aponeurosis of external obliquus abdominis.
- Triangle shaped

Question 14

What is the length of Female Inguinal Canal?

Answer 14

Shorter than male

Question 15

What are the contents of the Female Inguinal Canal?

Answer 15

round ligament of uterus, fat pad, blood vessels & nerves

Question 16

What is an inguinal Hernia?

Answer 16

Protrusion of a peritoneal sac, with or without abdominal contents. Through a weakened part of abdominal wall of inguinal region.

Question 17

Name the two types of Inguinal hernias?

Answer 17

1) Direct= through posterior wall of inguinal canal

2) indirect= through deep inguinal ring

Question 18

Describe the features of an indirect inguinal Hernia?

Answer 18

• Through deep inguinal ring
• 66-75% incidence
• transverses entire inguinal canal
• exits through superficial inguinal ring inside spermatic cord
• commonly enters scrotum

Question 19

Describe the features of a direct inguinal Hernia?

Answer 19

• Through peritoneum and transversallis fascia in posterior wall of inguinal canal
• does not use deep inguinal ring
• 25-33% incidence
• only transverses medial 1/3 of inguinal canal
• rarely enters scrotum

Question 20

What are the muscles of the posterior abdominal wall?

Answer 20

• Psoas major x 2
• Iliacus x 2
• lliopsoas x 2
• Quadratus lumborum x 2

Question 21

What are the palpable structures of the abdomen?

Answer 21

Xihoid process, 
costal margin,
 linea alba, 
semilunar line, 
rectus abdominis muscle, 
umbillicus,
 lliac crest
anterior superior lliac spine,
 inguinal ligament,
 pubic tubercis, public sumphysis, pubic crest

Question 22

What are the nine regions of the Abdominal Cavity divided by?

Answer 22

• Two horizontal planes

- Two vertical planes

Question 23

What are the names of the horizontal planes?

Answer 23

Subcostal plane
transpyloric plane
transtubercular plane

Question 24

What are the vertical planes called?

Answer 24

Midclavicular planes x 2