Quick Facts
Origin: Costal cartilages of seventh to twelfth ribs, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, and inguinal ligament.
Insertion: Linea alba, pubic crest, and pecten pubis.
Action: Compresses and provides structural support to adjacent abdominal structures.
Innervation: Anterior rami of seventh to twelfth thoracic nerves, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.
Arterial Supply: Lower posterior intercostal, subcostal, superficial and deep circumflex iliac, and superior and inferior epigastric arteries.
Origin
The transversus abdominis muscle originates from the:
- internal aspects of the seventh to twelfth costal cartilages;
- thoracolumbar fascia;
- anterior two thirds of the iliac crest;
- lateral one third of the inguinal ligament.
Insertion
The fibers of the transversus abdominis muscle travel in anterior and medial directions around the abdomen and insert onto the:
- linea alba, via its broad aponeurosis;
- pubic crest;
- pecten pubis, via its inguinal falx.
Key Features & Anatomical Relations
The transversus abdominis muscle (or corset muscle) is one of the muscles of the abdomen. It is a broad, flat skeletal muscle. The muscle belly gives rise to a broad aponeurosis of transversus abdominis, which contributes to the formation of the posterior layer of the rectus sheath.
The transversus abdominis muscle is located:
- superficial to the transversalis fascia;
- deep to the internal abdominal oblique muscle;
- lateral to the rectus abdominis muscle.
The transversus abdominis contributes to the formation of the:
- anterolateral abdominal wall;
- inguinal canal.
Actions
The transversus abdominis muscle compresses and provides structural support to adjacent abdominal structures (Moore, Dalley and Agur, 2009).
List of Clinical Correlates
- Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block
References
Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. M. R. (2009) Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Actions
The transversus abdominis muscle compresses and provides structural support to adjacent abdominal structures (Moore, Dalley and Agur, 2009).
