Anterior Abdominal Wall Vocabulary

A set of 40 vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, boundaries, regions, layers, muscles, nerve supply, and vasculature of the anterior abdominal wall.

Abdominopelvic Cavity

The body region extending superiorly from the thoracic diaphragm at the 4th intercostal space down to the pelvic diaphragm, bounded skeletally by costal cartilages 7-10, ribs 11-12, the xiphoid process, L1-L5, and the os coxae.

Greater Pelvis

Also known as the false pelvis, it is bounded superiorly by the ilium border and inferiorly by the pelvic inlet.

Lesser Pelvis

Also known as the true pelvis, it is the cavity bounded superiorly by the pelvic inlet and inferiorly by the pelvic diaphragm.

Pelvic Brim

The anatomical boundary between the greater and lesser pelvis, composed of the linea terminalis, sacral promontory, ala of sacrum, and pubic symphysis.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

An abdominal quadrant containing the liver, gallbladder, duodenum of the intestines, and a small portion of the pancreas.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

An abdominal quadrant containing the stomach and the spleen.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

An abdominal quadrant containing the descending colon, the left half of the transverse colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

An abdominal quadrant containing parts of the large intestine, small intestine, and appendix.

Epigastric Region

The upper central abdominal region housing the duodenum, liver, pancreas, and stomach.

Umbilical Region

The central abdominal region containing the duodenum, small intestine, and transverse colon.

Hypogastric Region

The lower central abdominal region containing the bladder, sigmoid colon, reproductive organs, and small intestine.

Right Hypochondriac Region

The upper right abdominal region containing the liver, gallbladder, right kidney, and small and large intestines.

Left Hypochondriac Region

The upper left abdominal region containing the left kidney, large and small intestines, pancreas, spleen, stomach, and tip of the liver.

Right Lumbar Region

The middle right abdominal region consisting of the ascending colon, right kidney, and small intestine.

Left Lumbar Region

The middle left abdominal region including parts of the descending colon, left kidney, and small intestine.

Right Iliac Region

The lower right abdominal region housing parts of the appendix, ascending colon, cecum, and small intestine.

Left Iliac Region

The lower left abdominal region including the descending colon, sigmoid colon, and small intestine.

Camper's Fascia

The fatty superficial layer of subcutaneous tissue of the anterolateral abdominal wall primary for fat storage.

Scarpa's Fascia

The membranous deep layer of subcutaneous tissue inferior to the umbilicus, continuous with Colle's fascia of the perineum.

Transversalis Fascia

The endoabdominal fascia situated directly deep to the transversus abdominis muscle.

External Oblique Muscle

Anterolateral abdominal muscle originating from ribs 5-12 and inserting into the linea alba, pubic tubercle, and anterior half of the iliac crest, responsible for trunk flexion and contralateral rotation.

Internal Oblique Muscle

Anterolateral abdominal muscle originating from the thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, and lateral 2/3 of inguinal ligament, inserting into ribs 10-12, linea alba, and pecten pubis via conjoint tendon.

Transversus Abdominis Muscle

The deepest flat abdominal muscle originating from costal cartilages 7-12, thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, and inguinal ligament, which compresses and supports abdominal contents.

Rectus Abdominis Muscle

Long vertical abdominal muscle originating from the pubic symphysis and pubic crest, inserting into costal cartilages 5-7 and xiphoid process, acting to flex the lumbar spine and compress abdominal viscera.

Pyramidalis Muscle

A small triangular vertical muscle within the rectus sheath originating from the front of the pubis/pubic symphysis and inserting into the linea alba to tense it.

Linea Alba

A fibrous midline structure formed by the interweaving aponeuroses of the flat anterolateral abdominal muscles, separating the right and left rectus abdominis muscles.

Linea Semilunaris

The curved tendinous line marking the lateral boundary of the rectus abdominis muscle.

Tendinous Intersections

Transverse fibrous bands attached to the anterior rectus sheath that divide the rectus abdominis muscle into segments to improve generation of force.

Arcuate Line

A crescentic line marking the inferior limit of the posterior wall of the rectus sheath, below which only transversalis fascia lies posterior to rectus abdominis.

Rectus Sheath

A fibrous compartment formed by the aponeuroses of the three flat abdominal muscles enclosing rectus abdominis, pyramidalis, epigastric vessels, and ventral rami of T7-T12 nerves.

Conjoint Tendon

A common insertion site on the pubic crest and pectineal line formed by the joined aponeuroses of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles.

Thoracoabdominal Nerves

Ventral rami of spinal nerves T7-T11 that run between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis to supply the anterolateral abdominal wall.

Subcostal Nerve

The anterior ramus of spinal nerve T12 supplying motor and sensory innervation to the lowermost abdominal wall and pyramidalis muscle.

Iliohypogastric Nerve

Branch originating from L1 anterior ramus providing cutaneous innervation superior to the pubic region and supplying lower abdominal wall musculature.

Ilioinguinal Nerve

Branch originating from L1 anterior ramus that passes through the inguinal canal to provide cutaneous sensation to the groin, upper scrotum, or mons pubis/labium majus.

T10 Dermatome

The specific spinal cutaneous nerve level that provides somatic sensory coverage surrounding the umbilicus.

Superior Epigastric Artery

The terminal branch of the internal thoracic artery entering the rectus sheath superiorly to supply upper rectus abdominis.

Inferior Epigastric Artery

Branch of the external iliac artery that enters the rectus sheath inferiorly by passing superior to the arcuate line to supply rectus abdominis.

Thoracoepigastric Vein

Subcutaneous venous channel formed by anastomoses between lateral thoracic and superficial epigastric veins that provides collateral circulation bypassing the vena cava system.

Intra-abdominal Pressure

Elevated pressure generated within the abdominal cavity via simultaneous contraction of the abdominal wall and fixed diaphragm during micturition, defecation, and childbirth.