The muscles of the abdomen region are covered with several fasciae:

Superficial abdominal fascia (fascia superficialis)

It is a continuation of the superficial fascia of the chest. Below the umbilical ring, the fascia is divided into two layers:

• Superficial fatty layer (Campers’ fascia), which continues into the superficial fascia of the thigh

• Deep connective tissue layer (Scarpa’s fascia)

  The superficial abdominal fascia forms two ligaments:

• Fundiform ligament of the penis/clitoris (lig. fundiforme penis/clitoridis)

• Suspensory ligament of the penis/clitoris (lig. suspensorium penis/clitoridis)

Fascia of abdominal organ (fascia propria)

It lies deeper. It forms several layers:

• The superficial layer (lamina superficialis) covers the external oblique muscle. In the region of the superficial inguinal ring, it forms the intercrural fibres and passes into the cremasteric fascia

• The middle layer (lamina media) covers the internal oblique muscle.

• The deep layer (lamina profunda) covers the transversus abdominis muscle.

  Endo-abdominal fascia (fascia endoabdominalis)

  It covers the abdominal cavity from the inside, adheres to the parietal layer of the peritoneum. Depending on its location, it can be called:

• Transversalis fascia (fascia transversalis), which covers the transversus abdominis muscle. It also forms the internal spermatic fascia (fascia spermatica interna).

  

  

• Diaphragmatic fascia (fascia diaphragmatica)

• Iliac fascia (fascia iliaca)

  

• Quadratus lumborum fascia (fascia m. quadratus lumborum)

• Pelvic fascia (fascia pelvis)

On the interior surface, in the lower parts of the anterior abdominal wall, the peritoneum forms folds:

• The median umbilical fold (plica umbilicalis mediana) contains an obliterated urinary duct

  

• The medial umbilical fold (plica umbilicalis medialis) contains an obliterated umbilical artery

  

• Lateral umbilical fold (plica umbilicalis lateralis) contains the inferior epigastric artery and veins

  

  Fossae are formed between these folds, which are weak points, where hernias may form:

• Supravesical fossa (fossa supravesicalis)

  

• The medial inguinal fossa (fossa inguinalis medialis) corresponds to the superficial inguinal ring

  

• The lateral inguinal fossa (fossa inguinalis lateralis) corresponds to the deep inguinal ring

  

  Various connective tissue structures form the so-called rectus sheath (vagina m. recti abdominis).

  Above the arcuate line (3-5 cm below the Umbilical region), the anterior wall of this sheath forms the following structures:

• Aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle

• Anterior layer of the aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle

  

  The posterior wall is formed by:

• Posterior layer of the aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle

• Aponeurosis of the transversus abdominal muscle

• Transversalis fascia

• Peritoneum

  

  Below the arcuate line, the anterior wall of the vagina is formed by:

• Aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle

• Aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle

• Aponeurosis of the transversus abdominal muscle The posterior wall is formed by:

• Transversalis fascia

• Peritoneum

  

  Passing to the anterior wall, lateral wall muscles of the abdomen form large tendon laminae called aponeuroses. These aponeuroses are involved in the formation of several important topographic structures.

  The inferior border of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle forms the inguinal ligament (lig. inguinale), which is also called arcus inguinalis. It is stretched between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tuber-

  

  cle. Near the pubis , the ligament bifurcates and forms two cruses:

• The medial crus (crus mediale) inserts into the pubic symphysis

  

• Lateral crus (crus laterale) is attached to the pubic tubercle

  

  Between the cruses of the ligament, there is a so-called intercrural fissure.

  Two additional ligaments arise from the lateral crus:

• Reflected ligament (lig. reflexum)

  

• Lacunar ligament (lig. lacunare)

Another topographic formation is the linea alba of the abdomen (linea alba). It is a place where the aponeuroses of the muscles of the abdomen cross. Approximately in the middle of the line there is an umbilical ring (anulus umbilicalis), this is the site of formation of inguinal hernias.

Dictionary

Regional / topographic anatomy of the abdominal wall

Superficial fascia of the abdomen

fascia superficialis

Fundiform ligament of penis/clitoris

lig. fundiforme penis/clitoridis

Suspensory ligament of penis/clitoris

lig. suspensorium penis/clitoridis

Fascia of abdominal organ

fascia propria

Parietal abdominal fascia

fascia endoabdominalis

Transversalis fascia

fascia transversalis

Diaphragmatic fascia

fascia diaphragmatica

Iliac fascia

fascia iliaca

Quadratus lumborum fascia

fascia m. quadratus lumborum

Pelvic fascia

fascia pelvis

Median umbilical fold

plica umbilicalis mediana

Medial umbilical fold

plica umbilicalis medialis

Lateral umbilical fold

plica umbilicalis lateralis

Supravesical fossa

fossa supravesicalis

Medial inguinal fossa

fossa inguinalis medialis

Lateral inguinal fossa

fossa inguinalis lateralis

Rectus sheath

vagina m. recti abdominis

Inguinal ligament

lig. inguinale

Medial crus

crus mediale

Lateral crus

crus laterale

Reflected ligament

lig. reflexum

Lacunar ligament

lig. lacunare

Linea alba of the abdomen

linea alba

Umbilical ring

anulus umbilicalis