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The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen. It is a paired vertical muscle found on either side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall. The muscle is innervated by thoraco-abdominal nerves, which are continuations of the T7-T11 intercostal nerves. The rectus abdominis is responsible for flexing the lumbar spine, stabilising the pelvis during walking, and depressing the ribs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Anterior abdominal wall |
| Shape | Long, flat, paired vertical muscle |
| Origin | Crest of the pubis bone |
| Insertion | Xiphoid process of the sternum and the costal cartilage of ribs 5-7 |
| Function | Assists flat muscles in compressing abdominal viscera, stabilises the pelvis during walking, depresses the ribs, flexes the lumbar spine |
| Innervation | Thoracoabdominal nerves (T7-T11) |
| Blood supply | Inferior epigastric and superior epigastric arteries; contributions from posterior intercostal, subcostal and deep circumflex arteries |
| Separation | Linea alba |
| Tendinous intersections | Present in humans and domestic mammals |
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What You'll Learn
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the front of the abdomen
In people with low body fat, the muscle bellies of the rectus abdominis can be viewed externally in sets of two to twelve, with six being the most common. Tendinous intersections further subdivide each muscle into a series of smaller muscle bellies. Tensing of the rectus abdominis causes the muscle to expand between each tendinous intersection. The upper portion is attached principally to the cartilage of the fifth rib and may have some fibres of insertion into the anterior extremity of the rib itself.
The rectus abdominis is innervated by thoraco-abdominal nerves, which are continuations of the T7-T11 intercostal nerves. Its blood supply comes from the inferior and superior epigastric arteries, with contributions from the posterior intercostal, subcostal, and deep circumflex arteries.
The rectus abdominis myocutaneous free-flap is used in human medicine for complex soft tissue reconstruction due to its potential to reconstruct large soft tissue defects and its reliable vascular pedicle.
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It is split into two by the linea alba
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen. It is a paired vertical muscle found on either side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall. It is split into two by the linea alba.
The rectus abdominis is an important postural muscle. It is responsible for flexing the lumbar spine, as when doing a crunch. The rib cage is brought up to where the pelvis is when the pelvis is fixed, or the pelvis can be brought towards the rib cage (posterior pelvic tilt) when the rib cage is fixed, such as in a leg-hip raise. It also assists the flat muscles in compressing the abdominal viscera and stabilises the pelvis during walking.
The rectus abdominis originates from the crest of the pubis bone and inserts onto the xiphoid process of the sternum and the costal cartilage of ribs 5-7. In contrast to humans and domestic mammals, no tendinous intersections are present in the rectus abdominis.
Tendinous intersections (intersectiones tendineae) further subdivide each rectus abdominis muscle into a series of smaller muscle bellies. Tensing of the rectus abdominis causes the muscle to expand between each tendinous intersection. The upper portion, attached principally to the cartilage of the fifth rib, usually has some fibres of insertion into the anterior extremity of the rib itself.
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The muscle is responsible for flexing the lumbar spine
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen. It is a paired vertical muscle found on either side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall. The muscle originates from the crest of the pubis bone and inserts onto the xiphoid process of the sternum and the costal cartilage of ribs 5-7.
The rectus abdominis is an important postural muscle. It is responsible for flexing the lumbar spine, as when doing a crunch. The rib cage is brought up to where the pelvis is when the pelvis is fixed, or the pelvis can be brought towards the rib cage (posterior pelvic tilt) when the rib cage is fixed, such as in a leg-hip raise.
The muscle is also involved in stabilising the pelvis during walking and depressing the ribs. It assists the flat muscles in compressing the abdominal viscera.
The rectus abdominis is innervated by thoraco-abdominal nerves, which are continuations of the T7-T11 intercostal nerves. Its blood supply comes from the inferior and superior epigastric arteries, with contributions from the posterior intercostal, subcostal and deep circumflex arteries.
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It is an important postural muscle
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen. It is an important postural muscle, responsible for flexing the lumbar spine. It is also involved in stabilising the pelvis during walking, and depressing the ribs.
The rectus abdominis is a paired vertical muscle, with one on each side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall. It is split into two by the linea alba, which separates it from its fellow on the opposite side. The upper portion of the muscle is attached to the cartilage of the fifth rib, and occasionally has some fibres of insertion into the anterior extremity of the rib itself.
The rectus abdominis is innervated by thoraco-abdominal nerves, which are continuations of the T7-T11 intercostal nerves. Its blood supply comes from the inferior and superior epigastric arteries, with contributions from the posterior intercostal, subcostal and deep circumflex arteries.
In people with low body fat, the muscle bellies of the rectus abdominis can be seen externally, usually in sets of six, although this can range from two to twelve. These muscle bellies are further subdivided by tendinous intersections, which cause the muscle to expand when tensed.
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The rectus abdominis is used in human medicine for complex soft tissue reconstruction
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen. It is a paired vertical muscle, found on either side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall. It is split into two by the linea alba. The rectus abdominis is an important postural muscle, responsible for flexing the lumbar spine. It also assists the flat muscles in compressing the abdominal viscera, stabilises the pelvis during walking, and depresses the ribs.
The rectus abdominis originates from the pubis bone and inserts onto the xiphoid process of the sternum and the costal cartilage of ribs 5-7. To observe the muscle, a flap can be cut in the internal oblique and reflected. The upper portion of the muscle is attached principally to the cartilage of the fifth rib, with some fibres of insertion into the anterior extremity of the rib itself.
Tendinous intersections further subdivide each rectus abdominis muscle into smaller muscle bellies. Tensing of the muscle causes it to expand between each tendinous intersection.
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Frequently asked questions
The rectus abdominis is a long, flat muscle that extends along the whole length of the front of the abdomen.
The rectus abdominis is a muscle of the anterior abdominal wall. It is a paired vertical muscle found on either side of the midline of the anterior abdominal wall.
The rectus abdominis is an important postural muscle. It is responsible for flexing the lumbar spine, as when doing a crunch. It also stabilises the pelvis during walking, and depresses the ribs.
