E2A Flashcards
Anterolateral abdominal wall and inguinal canal
subcostal plane
horizontal plane that connects lowest points of right and left costal margins (10th costal cartilages) and lies at the level of L3
transtubercular plane
horizontal plane connecting tubercles of right and left iliac crests and lies at the level of L5
midclavicular plane
vertical plane that passes through midpoint of clavicle and intersects halfway a line connecting anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to pubic tubercle
upper part
above subcostal plane
consists of epigastric region (center) and right and left hypochondriac regions
middle part
between subcostal and transtubercular planes
consists of umbilical region (center) and right and left lateral regions (lumbar regions or flanks)
lower part
below transtubercular plane
consists of pubic/hypogastric region (center) and right and left inguinal (iliac) regions
layers of anterolateral abdominal wall
superficial to deep
- skin
2, superficial fascia - muscles with their deep (investing) fasciae
- transversalis fascia (part of endoabdominal fascia)
- extraperitoneal fascia
- parietal peritoneum
superficial fascia layers
Camper’s fascia
Scarpa’s fascia
Note: after laceration of spongy (penile) urethra, urine and blood pass into superficial perineal space (deep to Colles’ fascia), scrotum, penis and anterior abdominal wall, but not inferiorly into thighs (because of fusion of Scarpa’s fascia with fascia lata)
Camper’s fascia
superficial fatty layer
continuous with superficial fat over rest of body
may be extremely thick
Scarpa’s fascia
deep membranous layer
inferiorly extends into upper thigh and fuses with fascia lata (deep fascia of thigh) about a fingerbreadth below inguinal ligament
continuous with superficial fascia of penis (or clitoris), dartos tunic/fascia (scrotum) and superficial perineal fascia (Colles’ fascia)
muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall
- 3 broad and thin (flat) muscles on each side: external oblique, internal oblique and transversus abdominis
- on each side of anterior midline there is a long, vertical muscle called rectus abdominis
- there is usually a small muscle anterior to lower part of rectus abdominis called pyramidalis (absent in about 20% of people)
- 3 flat abdominal muscles are muscular (fleshy) posterolaterally and aponeurotic (fibrous) anteromedially
- aponeuroses of 3 flat muscles pass medially and enclose rectus abdominis (and pyramidalis, if present) and form rectus sheath
- in midline of anterior abdominal wall, aponeuroses of 3 right flat muscles join aponeuroses of 3 left flat muscles and forms fibrous band (linea alba) that extends from xiphoid process to pubic symphysis
external oblique origin
outer surface of lower 8 ribs
external oblique insertion
on an anterior view, fibers run inferiorly and medially (similar to external intercostals) -> lower fibers insert into iliac crest -> remaining fibers become continuous with an aponeurosis which inserts into xiphoid process, linea alba and pubic bone
inguinal ligament
Poupart’s
lower border of external oblique aponeurosis that extends from ASIS to pubic tubercle -> it is folded backward on itself forming a trough -> inguinal ligament forms boundary between abdomen and thigh
superficial inguinal ring
opening in external oblique aponeurosis located immediately superior to pubic tubercle -> it is the anterior (superficial) opening of inguinal canal
internal oblique origin
thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest and lateral ⅔ of inguinal ligament
internal oblique insertion
on an anterior view, upper fibers run superiorly and medially (similar to internal and innermost intercostals) while lower fibers are more horizontal -> upper fibers insert into inferior border of lower 3 or 4 ribs and their costal cartilages -> remaining fibers become continuous with an aponeurosis which inserts into xiphoid process, linea alba and pubic bone
internal oblique
located immediately deep to external oblique
has a lower free border that arches over contents of inguinal canal
transversus abdominis
lies deep to internal oblique
has a lower free border that arches over contents of inguinal canal
lowest tendinous fibers of internal oblique and transversus abdominis join each other to form conjoint tendon (falx inguinalis) -> attaches inferiorly to pubic bone
transversus abdominis origin
deep surface of lower 6 costal cartilages, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest and lateral ⅓ of inguinal ligament
transversus abdominis insertion
fibers run horizontally forward -> become continuous with an aponeurosis which inserts into xiphoid process, linea alba and pubic bone
rectus abdominis
- long strap muscle that extends along whole length of anterior abdominal wall -> narrower and thicker below, broader and thinner above -> it is separated from its fellow by linea alba
- divided into segments by 3 transverse fibrous bands (tendinous intersections or inscriptions) -> superior tendinous intersection is just inferior to xiphoid process, inferior one is at the level of umbilicus, middle one is half-way between the other two
- when it contracts, its lateral margin forms a curved ridge (linea semilunaris) that can be palpated and often seen -> extends from tip of 9th costal cartilage to pubic tubercle
rectus abdominis origin
pubic symphysis and pubic crest
rectus abdominis insertion
5th, 6th and 7th costal cartilages and xiphoid process
pyramidalis
small triangular muscle located anterior to lower part of rectus abdominis, within rectus sheath
may be absent on one or both sides
pyramidalis origin
anterior surface of body of pubis
pyramidalis insertion
linea alba