Lecture 4 - Abdomen and Pelvis Flashcards
What are the boundaries of the abdominal cavity?
Boundaries:
• Superiorly: Diaphragm
• Posteriorly: Lumbar vertebrae and posterior
abdominal wall muscles
• Antero-laterally: Muscles of the
anterolateral abdominal wall
• Inferiorly: continuous with the pelvic cavity
What are the different movements of the trunk?
External oblique.
Name the attachments, actions and nerve.
Internal oblique
Name the attachments, actions and nerve.
Transverse abdominis.
Name the attachments, actions and nerve.
Rectus abdominis
Name the attachments, actions and nerve.
Aponeuroses of the External oblique, Internal oblique and Transversus
abdominis muscles contribute to the formation of the__________
Aponeuroses of the External oblique, Internal oblique and Transversus
abdominis muscles contribute to the formation of the rectus sheath.
Functional considerations:
What are the actions of the anterior abdominal wall muscles?
- Movement: flexion, lateral flexion and rotation of the trunk.
Note: the obliques act as muscle couples to accomplish rotation:
left external oblique and right internal oblique rotate the trunk to the right;
right external oblique and left internal oblique rotate the trunk to the left. - Support to the abdominal viscera:
Abdominal cavity acts as a pressure cylinder. Contraction of abdominal
muscles increases intraabdominal pressure, important in:
• normal micturition, defecation, parturition and respiration;
• forced expiration, i.e., coughing, sneezing;
• normal posture and weight lifting.
Identify the structures in this image.
Antero-lateral abdominal wall layers.
What is the inguinal canal and its components?
The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall. It is important
because the testes descend through it in males during development, and loops of gut may be forced through it as well.
Openings of the inguinal canal:
superficial and deep inguinal rings.
Contents of the inguinal canal in males?
vas deferens (ductus deferens), testicular artery and vein, ilioinguinal nerve, genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve, autonomic nerves to the testis and lymph drainage from the testis. These structures descend with the testis and form the spermatic cord.
Contents of the inguinal canal in females?
Round ligament of the uterus – supports the position of the uterus.
What is a hernia?
An abnormal prolapse (exit) of tissues or organs through the wall of the
cavity they normally reside in is called a hernia. Hernias most commonly
involve the abdomen.
Explain what is a indirect and direct hernia. + the statistics
Approximately 90% of all hernias are
inguinal hernias = in the groin
(inguinal) region.
• 75% of all inguinal hernias are in
males.
• Inguinal hernias:
1. Direct
2. Indirect
Indirect inguinal hernias pass through the deep inguinal ring, inguinal canal and
superficial inguinal ring. They are 20x more common in males than females.
Direct inguinal hernias do not pass through the inguinal canal, they push directly through the superficial inguinal ring. They are most common in males over 40.