Aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus abdominis

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Aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus abdominis
The subcutaneous inguinal ring. (Aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus labeled near center.)
The spermatic cord in the inguinal canal. (Aponeurosis of external oblique muscle labeled at bottom center.)
Gray's	subject #118 410

The aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus abdominis is a thin but strong membranous structure, the fibers of which are directed downward and medialward.

It is joined with that of the opposite muscle along the middle line, and covers the whole of the front of the abdomen; above, it is covered by and gives origin to the lower fibers of the Pectoralis major; below, its fibers are closely aggregated together, and extend obliquely across from the anterior superior iliac spine to the public tubercle and the pectineal line.

In the middle line, it interlaces with the aponeurosis of the opposite muscle, forming the linea alba, which extends from the xiphoid process to the symphysis pubis.

That portion of the aponeurosis which extends between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle is a thick band, folded inward, and continuous below with the fascia lata; it is called the inguinal ligament.

The portion which is reflected from the inguinal ligament at the pubic tubercle is attached to the pectineal line and is called the lacunar ligament.

From the point of attachment of the latter to the pectineal line, a few fibers pass upward and medialward, behind the medial crus of the subcutaneous inguinal ring, to the linea alba; they diverge as they ascend, and form a thin triangular fibrous band which is called the reflected inguinal ligament.

In the aponeurosis of the Obliquus externus, immediately above the crest of the pubis, is a triangular opening, the subcutaneous inguinal ring, formed by a separation of the fibers of the aponeurosis in this situation.

[edit] External links

• Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 25466.086-1
• Cross section at UV pelvis/pelvis-e12-2
• SUNY Labs 35:07-0102 - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: The External Abdominal Oblique Muscle"
• SUNY Anatomy Image 7028

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.