Muscles of the Abdominal Region - Listed Alphabetically
|
Muscle |
Origin |
Insertion |
Action |
Innervation |
Artery |
Notes |
Image |
cremaster |
inguinal ligament |
forms thin network of muscle fascicles around the spermatic cord and testis
(or around the distal portion of the round ligament of the uterus) |
elevates testis (not well developed in females) |
genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve |
cremasteric a., a branch of the inferior epigastric a. |
the cremaster m. is internal abdominal oblique muscle's contribution to
the coverings of the spermatic cord and testis; the cremasteric reflex may
be elicited by stroking the medial thigh (where the femoral branch of the genitofemoral
n. distributes cutaneously) |
|
dartos |
subcutaneous connective tissue of the scrotum and the penis (or labium majus
and clitoris) |
skin of the scrotum and penis (or labium majus and clitoris) |
elevates testis (tenses the skin of the pudendal region in the female) |
postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers arriving via the ilioinguinal nerve
and the posterior scrotal nerve |
cremasteric a., posterior scrotal (labial) a. |
the dartos elevates the testis in response to cold (it is modified arrector
pili fibers, or the goose-bump muscles) |
|
diaphragm |
xiphoid process, costal margin, fascia over the quadratus lumborum and psoas
major mm.(lateral & medial arcuate ligaments), vertebral bodies L1-L3 |
central tendon of the diaphragm |
pushes the abdominal viscera inferiorly, increasing the volume of the thoracic
cavity (inspiration) |
phrenic nerve (C3-C5) |
musculophrenic a., superior phrenic a., inferior phrenic a. |
left crus attaches to the L1-L2 vertebral bodies, the right crus attaches
to the L1-L3 vertebral bodies |
|
external abdominal oblique |
lower 8 ribs |
linea alba, pubic crest & tubercle, anterior superior iliac spine & anterior
half of iliac crest |
flexes and laterally bends the trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
musculophrenic a., superior epigastric a., intercostal aa. 7-11, subcostal
a., lumbar aa., superficial circumflex iliac a., deep circumflex iliac a.,
superficial epigastric a., inferior epigastric a., superficial external pudendal
a. |
the inguinal ligament is a specialization of the external abdominal oblique
aponeurosis; the external spermatic fascia is the external abdominal oblique
muscle's contribution to the coverings of the testis and spermatic cord |
|
iliacus |
iliac fossa and iliac crest; ala of sacrum |
lesser trochanter of the femur |
flexes the thigh; if the thigh is fixed it flexes the pelvis on the thigh |
femoral nerve |
iliolumbar a. |
inserts in company with the psoas major m. via the iliopsoas tendon |
|
iliopsoas |
iliac fossa; bodies and transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae |
lesser trochanter of the femur |
flexes the thigh; flexes and laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column
|
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4; branches of
the femoral nerve |
iliolumbar a. |
a combination of the iliacus and psoas major mm. |
|
interfoveolar |
transversus abdominis fibers that lie superficial to the inferior epigastric
vessels |
anterior lamina of femoral sheath, immediately distal to origin of inferior
epigastric vessels |
compresses abdominal contents |
iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
inferior epigastric a. |
an inconstant part of the transversus abdominis m. which may be replaced
by a ligament (interfoveolar ligament) |
Image Not Available |
internal abdominal oblique |
thoracolumbar fascia, anterior 2/3 of the iliac crest, lateral 2/3 of the
inguinal ligament |
lower 3 or 4 ribs, linea alba, pubic crest |
flexes and laterally bends the trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
musculophrenic a., superior epigastric a., intercostal aa. 7-11, subcostal
a., lumbar aa., superficial circumflex iliac a., deep circumflex iliac a.,
superficial epigastric a., inferior epigastric a., superficial external pudendal
a. |
anterior fibers of internal abdominal oblique course up and medially, perpendicular
to the fibers of external abdominal oblique; the cremaster muscle and fascia
is the internal abdominal oblique muscle's contribution to the coverings of
the testis and spermatic cord |
|
oblique, external abdominal |
lower 8 ribs |
linea alba, pubic crest & tubercle, anterior superior iliac spine & anterior
half of iliac crest |
flexes and laterally bends the trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
musculophrenic a., superior epigastric a., intercostal aa. 7-11, subcostal
a., lumbar aa., superficial circumflex iliac a., deep circumflex iliac a.,
superficial epigastric a., inferior epigastric a., superficial external pudendal
a. |
the inguinal ligament is a specialization of the external abdominal oblique
aponeurosis; the external spermatic fascia is the external abdominal oblique
muscle's contribution to the coverings of the testis and spermatic cord |
|
oblique, internal abdominal |
thoracolumbar fascia, anterior 2/3 of the iliac crest, lateral 2/3 of the
inguinal ligament |
lower 3 or 4 ribs, linea alba, pubic crest |
flexes and laterally bends the trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
musculophrenic a., superior epigastric a., intercostal aa. 7-11, subcostal
a., lumbar aa., superficial circumflex iliac a., deep circumflex iliac a.,
superficial epigastric a., inferior epigastric a., superficial external pudendal
a. |
anterior fibers of internal abdominal oblique course up and medially, perpendicular
to the fibers of external abdominal oblique; the cremaster muscle and fascia
is the internal abdominal oblique muscle's contribution to the coverings of
the testis and spermatic cord |
|
psoas major |
bodies and transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae |
lesser trochanter of femur (with iliacus) via iliopsoas tendon |
flexes the thigh; flexes & laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column |
branches of the ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L2-L4 |
subcostal a., lumbar aa. |
the genitofemoral nerve pierces the anterior surface of the psoas major
m. |
|
psoas minor |
bodies of the T12 & L1 vertebrae |
iliopubic eminence at the line of junction of the ilium and the superior
pubic ramus |
flexes & laterally bends the lumbar vertebral column |
branches of the ventral primary rams of spinal nerves L1-L2 |
lumbar aa. |
absent in 40% of cases |
|
pyramidalis |
pubis, anterior to the rectus abdominis |
linea alba |
draws the linea alba inferiorly |
subcostal nerve |
subcostal a., inferior epigastric a. |
the pyramidalis m. is not always present |
|
quadratus lumborum |
posterior part of the iliac crest and the iliolumbar ligament |
transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae 1-4 and the 12th rib |
laterally bends the trunk, fixes the 12th rib |
subcostal nerve and ventral primary rami of spinal nerves L1-L4 |
subcostal a., lumbar aa. |
the lateral arcuate ligament of the diaphragm crosses the anterior surface
of the quadratus lumborum m. |
|
rectus abdominis |
pubis and the pubic symphysis |
xiphoid process of the sternum and costal cartilages 5-7 |
flexes the trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11 and subcostal nerve |
superior epigastric a. intercostal aa., subcostal a., inferior epigastric
a. |
rectus sheath contains rectus abdominis and is formed by the aponeuroses
of external and internal oblique and transversus abdominis mm. |
|
transversus abdominis |
lower 6 ribs, thoracolumbar fascia, anterior 3/4 of the iliac crest, lateral
1/3 of inguinal ligament |
linea alba, pubic crest and pecten of the pubis |
flexes and laterally bends trunk |
intercostal nerves 7-11, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves |
musculophrenic a., superior epigastric a., intercostal aa. 7-11, subcostal
a., lumbar aa., superficial circumflex iliac a., deep circumflex iliac a.,
superficial epigastric a., inferior epigastric a., superficial external pudendal
a. |
transversus abdominis muscle does not contribute to the coverings of the
spermatic cord and testis; transversalis fascia, the deep fascia that covers
the inner surface of the transversus abdominis, forms the internal spermatic
fascia |
|