In anatomy, the abdominal wall represents the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall is split into the anterolateral and posterior walls.
There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the visceral peritoneum, which covers many of the abdominal organs (most of the large and small intestines, for example), and the parietal peritoneum—which covers the visceral peritoneum below it, the extraperitoneal fat, the transversalis fascia, the internal and external oblique and transversus abdominis aponeurosis, and a layer of fascia, which has different names according to what it covers (e.g., transversalis, psoas fascia).
In medical vernacular, the term 'abdominal wall' most commonly refers to the layers composing the anterior abdominal wall which, in addition to the layers mentioned above, includes the three layers of muscle: the transversus abdominis (transverse abdominal muscle), the internal (obliquus internus) and the external oblique (obliquus externus).
Structure The contour of the abdominal wall is roughly hexagonal. Its superior border is bounded by the costal margins, lateral borders by mid-axillary lines, and inferior borders bounded by the anterior half of the iliac crest, inguinal ligaments, pubic crest, and pubic symphysis.
Layers In human anatomy, the layers of the anterolateral abdominal wall are (from superficial to deep):
Skin Subcutaneous tissue Fascia Camper's fascia - fatty superficial layer. Scarpa's fascia - deep fibrous layer. Superficial abdominal fascia Muscle External oblique abdominal muscle Internal oblique abdominal muscle Rectus abdominis Transverse abdominal muscle Pyramidalis muscle Transversalis fascia Extraperitoneal fat Peritoneum
Inner surface
The surface contains several ligaments separated by fossae:
Ligament/fold Remnant of Lateral fossa Hernia median umbilical ligament urachus supravesical fossa supravesical hernia (rare) medial umbilical ligament umbilical artery medial inguinal fossa direct inguinal hernia lateral umbilical fold inferior epigastric vessels lateral inguinal fossa indirect inguinal hernia
See also Abdominal exercise Abdominal wall defect Human abdomen Peritoneum Terms for anatomical location
References
External links - "Skeleton of the Abdomen", Wesley Norman, PhD, DSc
Anterolateral Abdominal Wall - University of Edinburgh Faculty of Medicine Muscles of the Anterior Abdominal Wall - University of Arkansas YouTube video of abdominal wall form Colorectal Disease Journal