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Anterior Abdominal Muscles

The anterior abdominal muscles are part of the abdominal wall musculature. They tense the anterior abdominal wall together with the lateral abdominal muscles.

Contents
  1. Anatomy
  2. Function
  3. Clinical Aspects
  4. Related Atlas Images

Anatomy

The anterior abdominal muscles consist of:

  • Rectus abdominis muscle: originates from the pubis (between the pubic tubercle and symphysis) and inserts at the 5th to 7th costal cartilage and the xiphoid process of the sternum. Thereby it passes through the rectus sheath, a tendinous muscle envelope built by the aponeurosis of the lateral abdominal muscles. The rectus abdominis muscle has 3-4 horizontal tendinous intersections which are adhered to the anterior layer of the rectus sheath giving it its multi-bellied appearance (“washboard stomach”). These are traces of the segmental arrangement during embryogenesis (metamerism). The innervation is carried by the lower intercostal nerves.

Rectus abdominis muscle - ventral view

Rectus abdominis muscle - ventral view

  • Pyramidalis muscle: runs diagonally from the pubis (ventral to the insertion of the rectus abdominis muscle) within the rectus sheath to the linea alba. It is innervated by the subcostal nerve (12th intercostal nerve).

Pyramidalis muscle - ventral view

Pyramidalis muscle - ventral view

Function

The main tasks of the rectus abdominis muscle and the lateral abdominal muscles are the: 

  • movement of the trunk
  • stabilization of the vertebral column
  • tensioning of the abdominal wall
Recommended video: Rectus abdominis muscle
Origin, insertion, innervation and function of the rectus abdominis muscle.

They are responsible for the abdominal press, increasing the intra-abdominal pressure (e.g. during defecation or vomiting). Furthermore, they support the exhalation by pulling down the thorax through their contraction (expiratory breathing muscles). In particular, the rectus abdominis muscle does a ventral flexion (flexion of the trunk or erection of the pelvis) and thus is an important antagonist of the intrinsic back muscles.

Recommended video: Pyramidalis muscle
Origin, insertion, innervation and function of the pyramidalis muscle

The pyramidalis is a rudimentary muscle and relates to the pouch muscle of monotremes (e.g. hedgehog, duckbill) and marsupials (e.g. koala, kangaroo). Its original function, tensioning of the linea alba, does not play a role in higher mammals anymore.

Clinical Aspects

Abdominal muscles stabilize the vertebral column together with the back musculature. If they are poorly developed they cannot keep up to the antagonistic force of the back muscles. In the long term, this leads to hyperlordosis of the lumbar vertebral column and anterior pelvic tilt.

The tension of the abdominal muscles counters the weight of the internal abdominal organs. In case of overload (e.g. obesity, pregnancy) the increased intra-abdominal pressure can cause a hernial opening of the abdominal wall through which viscera (guts) may protrude. Predisposed weaknesses are often areas with few muscles such as the linea alba (epigastric hernia), the navel (umbilical hernia) and the inguinal ligament (inguinal hernia). On the contrary there is no hernial opening in diastasis recti, a condition where the rectus sheaths spread apart from the linea alba.

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Show references

References:

  • M. Schünke/E. Schulte/U. Schumacher: Prometheus – LernAtlas der Anatomie – Allgemeine Anatomie und Bewegungssystem, 2.Auflage, Thieme Verlag (2007), S.152-155
  • M. Schünke: Funktionelle Anatomie – Topographie und Funktion des Bewegungssystems, 1.Auflage, Thieme Verlag (2000), S.192-206
  • H. Lippert: Lehrbuch Anatomie, 8.Auflage, Urban & Fischer Verlag/Elsevier (2011), S.179-182
  • C. Gegenbauer: Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen, Band 3, Salzwasser Verlag (2012, Nachdruck des Originals von 1899), S.402-403

Author & Layout:

  • Achudhan Karunaharamoorthy
  • Christopher A. Becker

Illustrators:

  • Rectus abdominis muscle - ventral view - Yousun Koh
  • Pyramidalis muscle - ventral view - Yousun Koh
© Unless stated otherwise, all content, including illustrations are exclusive property of Kenhub GmbH, and are protected by German and international copyright laws. All rights reserved.

Related Atlas Images

Muscles of the ventral trunk

ventral view
External intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales externi); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Internal intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales interni); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Transversus thoracis muscle (Musculus transversus thoracis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Subcostal muscles (Musculi subcostales); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Pectoralis major muscle (Musculus pectoralis major); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Pectoralis minor muscle (Musculus pectoralis minor); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Serratus anterior muscle (Musculus serratus anterior); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Subclavius muscle (Musculus subclavius); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Cremaster muscle (Musculus cremaster); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Pyramidalis muscle (Musculus pyramidalis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
External oblique muscle (Musculus obliquus externus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Internal oblique muscle (Musculus obliquus internus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Transversus abdominis muscle (Musculus transversus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Rectus abdominis muscle (Musculus rectus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Quadratus lumborum muscle (Musculus quadratus lumborum); Image: Yousun Koh

Main muscles of the trunk

ventral view
Pectoralis major muscle (Musculus pectoralis major); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Pectoralis minor muscle (Musculus pectoralis minor); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
External oblique muscle (Musculus obliquus externus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Internal oblique muscle (Musculus obliquus internus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Rectus abdominis muscle (Musculus rectus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Transversus abdominis muscle (Musculus transversus abdominis); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
External intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales externi); Image: Yousun Koh
ventral view
Internal intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales interni); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Latissimus dorsi muscle (Musculus latissimus dorsi); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Trapezius muscle (Musculus trapezius); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Serratus posterior superior muscle (Musculus serratus posterior superior); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Serratus posterior inferior muscle (Musculus serratus posterior inferior); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Rhomboid major muscle (Musculus rhomboideus major); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Rhomboid minor muscle (Musculus rhomboideus minor); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Levator scapulae muscle (Musculus levator scapulae); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Levatores costarum muscles (Musculi levatores costarum); Image: Irina Münstermann
dorsal view
Iliocostalis muscle (Musculus iliocostalis); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Longissimus muscle (Musculus longissimus); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Multifidus muscle (Musculus multifidus); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Splenius cervicis muscle (Musculus splenius cervicis); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Splenius capitis muscle (Musculus splenius capitis); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Interspinales muscles (Musculi interspinales); Image: Yousun Koh
dorsal view
Rotatores breves and longi muscles (Musculi rotatores breves et longi); Image: Yousun Koh

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