The Abdomen

Question 1

Describe the abdomen

Answer 1

• it is part of the trunk between the thorax and the pelvis
• it houses most of the organs of the digestive system and part of the urogenital system
• abdominal organs protected by muscular walls, diaphragm superiorly and muscles of the pelvis inferiorly

Question 2

What do the different muscles of the abdomen do?

Answer 2

• external oblique -> fixes and rotates trunk, pulls down ribs in forced expiration
• internal oblique -> assists in flexing and rotating trunk; pulls down ribs in forced expiration
• transversus abdominis -> compresses and supports abdominal contents and flexes external and internal oblique muscles
• rectus abdominis -> compresses abdominal contents and flexes trunk

Question 3

What can happen to the abdominal muscles in pregnancy?

Answer 3

• the growing uterus can sometimes cause the abdominal muscles to separate (diastasis recti)