Body wall

Question 1

Outline the body wall.

Answer 1

• The wall of the thorax and the wall of the abdomen are one, topographically and developmentally, the essential difference being the presence of ribs in the part primarily concerned with respiration.
• The skin varies in texture, tending to be thin in front and thick behind. Distribution of hair varies with sex, age and race. The tension lines run almost horizontally around the body wall, except over and above the breast.
• In the subcutaneous tissue over the dilatable part of the body wall, namely the anterior abdominal wall and lower part of the thoracic wall in front of the midaxillary lines, the fibrous septa of the subcutaneous tissue are condensed beneath the fat into a thin but strong membranous layer of superficial fascia, the fascia of Scarpa.
• This fascia allows the fatty layer of superficial fascia, the fascia of Camper, to slide freely over the underlying thoracic wall, rectus sheath and external oblique aponeurosis. It fades out over the upper thoracic wall and along the midaxillary lines.
• The fascia of Scarpa is continued over the penis and scrotum as the superficial fascia of the penis (Buck’s fascia) and the superficial perineal fascia (Colles’ fascia).
• Below, over the thighs, it is attached to the fascia lata along the flexure skin crease of the hip, extending laterally from the pubic tubercle just below the inguinal ligament.