Vascular Supply and Innervation of the Anterior Abdominal Wall

Question 1

Which muscle layers does the neurovascular supply course through?

Answer 1

2nd and 3rd (Internal Oblique and Transverse Abdominis Muscles).

Question 2

What are the 4 arteries that supply the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Answer 2

Intercostal, Lumbar, Superior epigastric, and Inferior epigastric arteries.

Question 3

The inferior posterior ________ arteries and the _______ arteries from the descending aorta supply the lateral part of the anterior abdominal wall.

Answer 3

Intercostal, Lumbar.

Question 4

What arteries do the intercostal and lumbar arteries anastomose with?

Answer 4

Sometimes with the inferior and superior epigastric arteries.

Question 5

The _________ _______ artery arises from the internal thoracic artery, enters the rectus sheath, and descends on the deep surface of the rectus abdominis muscle.

Answer 5

Superior epigastric.

Question 6

The superior epigastric artery anastomoses with what artery and through what muscle does this happen?

Answer 6

Inferior epigastric artery, and through the rectus abdominis muscle.

Question 7

The ________ _______ artery arises from the external iliac artery above the inguinal ligament, enters the rectus sheath at the arcuate line, and ascends between the rectus abdominis muscle and the posterior layer of the rectus sheath.

Answer 7

Inferior epigastric.

Question 8

The inferior epigastric artery anastomoses with what artery?

Answer 8

Superior epigastric artery.

Question 9

What spinal nerves innervate the anterior abdominal wall?

Answer 9

Ventral rami of T6-T11.

Question 10

What lower spinal nerve bifurcates, and what does it bifurcate into?

Answer 10

L1, and the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.

DO NOT PIERCE THE RECTUS SHEATH!