Logan Steele
The external oblique muscle is one of the outermost abdominal muscles, extending from the lower half of the ribs around and down to the pelvis. Together, the external oblique muscles cover the sides of the abdominal area, sitting on the top surface of the abdomen right below the subcutaneous fat and skin. The internal oblique muscles are underneath the external oblique muscles on each side of the trunk and are much thinner and smaller. The external oblique muscles are the largest of the flat muscles and sit at the bottom of the stack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Lateral and anterior parts of the abdomen |
| Shape | Broad, thin, and irregularly quadrilateral |
| Function | Pulls the chest downwards, compresses the abdominal cavity, increases intra-abdominal pressure, controls bending, twisting, and side-bending |
| Blood Supply | Ventral branches of the lower six thoracoabdominal nerves, subcostal nerve, lower intercostal arteries, deep circumflex iliac artery, iliolumbar artery |
| Nerve Supply | Lower six thoracic spinal nerves (T7-T12), terminal branches of the lower five intercostal nerves, subcostal nerve, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves (L1) |
| Injury Treatment | Ice packs, stretching, warming up, cooling down, physical therapy |
| Related Issues | Urinary tract issues, bladder issues, incontinence, abdomen pain, groin pain, testicular pain |
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What You'll Learn
External abdominal oblique muscle
The external abdominal oblique muscle is the largest and outermost of the three flat abdominal muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen. It is situated on the lateral and anterior parts of the abdomen. It is broad, thin, and irregularly quadrilateral, with its muscular portion occupying the side and its aponeurosis occupying the anterior wall of the abdomen. The external oblique muscle is located beneath the thoracic and abdominal skin, covering the internal abdominal oblique and anterior halves of the ribs and intercostal muscles. Its muscular part contributes to the lateral part of the abdominal wall, while its aponeurotic part contributes to the anterior abdominal wall.
The external abdominal oblique muscle originates from the external surfaces of the fifth to twelfth ribs, with the digitations of these ribs arranged in an oblique line. The upper digitations attach close to the cartilages of the corresponding ribs, while the lowest attach to the apex of the cartilage of the last rib. The middle and upper fibres of the muscle become aponeurotic at the midclavicular line and form the anterior layer of the rectus sheath. The external oblique muscle is innervated by the anterior rami of the thoracic spinal nerves T7-T12, with the intercostal nerves T7-T11 supplying the superior part of the muscle and the subcostal nerve T12 innervating the lower part.
The external oblique muscle has a variety of functions, including pulling the chest downwards and compressing the abdominal cavity, which increases intra-abdominal pressure. It also performs ipsilateral side-bending and contralateral rotation: the right external oblique would side-bend to the right and rotate to the left, and vice versa. The external abdominal oblique muscle is involved in various trunk movements and can be injured during certain activities such as rowing, raking leaves, chronic coughing, lifting heavy loads, or even sitting for long periods.
Injury to the external oblique muscle can cause pain in the abdomen, groin, and testicular region, as well as contribute to burning and discomfort in the urinary tract and bladder. It is important to seek medical attention and care if experiencing any of these symptoms, as they may indicate a more serious underlying condition. Physical therapy and conservative treatment methods, such as stretching, warming up, and cooling down, can help alleviate pain and aid in recovery.
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Internal abdominal oblique muscle
The internal abdominal oblique muscle is a broad, thin muscular sheet found on the lateral side of the abdomen. It is one of the three layers of the lateral abdominal wall, along with the external oblique on the outer side and transverse abdominis on the inner side. The internal abdominal oblique muscle is found deep to the external abdominal oblique and superficial to the transverse abdominis.
The fibres of the internal abdominal oblique are obliquely oriented, perpendicular to those of the external abdominal oblique. The lateral fibres of the internal abdominal oblique muscle are continuous with the rectus sheath, the large aponeurosis of the anterior abdominal wall. The rectus sheath encloses the rectus abdominis and pyramidalis muscles, as well as many neurovascular structures of the anterior abdominal wall.
The internal abdominal oblique muscle has multiple sites of origin, which are distributed along the anterolateral side of the trunk. According to their origin, the muscle fibres can be divided into anterior, lateral, and posterior fibres. Anterior fibres arise from a deeper structure known as the iliopectineal arch. The fibres pass inferomedially, arching over the inguinal canal and merging with the tendinous fibres of the transversus abdominis muscle to form the conjoint tendon.
In males, some of the anterior fibres extend into the spermatic cord and form the cremaster muscle. Lateral fibres originate from the anterior two-thirds of the iliac crest and then diverge superiorly and medially. The fibres then extend into an aponeurosis that contributes to the formation of the rectus sheath and inserts at the linea alba. Posterior fibres originate from the posterior end of the iliac crest and the thoracolumbar fascia.
The internal abdominal oblique muscle is important for movements of the trunk, maintaining normal abdominal tension, and increasing intra-abdominal pressure. Its contraction causes ipsilateral rotation and side-bending, and it acts with the external oblique muscle of the opposite side to achieve torsional movement of the trunk.
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Function of the obliques
The external oblique muscle is one of the outermost abdominal muscles, extending from the lower half of the ribs around and down to the pelvis. The internal oblique muscle is underneath the external oblique muscle on each side of the trunk. Together, these muscles help with movement and support the spine and trunk during walking, sitting down, standing up, twisting from side to side, and other ambulatory motions.
The external oblique muscle is supplied by the ventral branches of the lower six thoraco-abdominal nerves and the subcostal nerve on each side. The cranial portion of the muscle is supplied by the lower intercostal arteries, while the caudal portion is supplied by branches of either the deep circumflex iliac artery or the iliolumbar artery. The upper two-thirds of the external abdominal oblique receive blood supply from the branches of the lower posterior intercostal and subcostal arteries, while the lower third is supplied by the deep circumflex iliac artery.
The external oblique functions to pull the chest downwards and compress the abdominal cavity, which increases intra-abdominal pressure. This pressure change is useful for processes such as breathing, singing, defecation, coughing, vomiting, and childbirth. The external oblique also performs ipsilateral side-bending and contralateral rotation: the right external oblique would side-bend to the right and rotate to the left, and vice versa.
The internal oblique muscle functions similarly to the external oblique, except it rotates ipsilaterally. The internal oblique is also involved in maintaining internal abdominal pressure.
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Oblique muscle pain
The obliques are the muscles that run down either side of the abdomen, connecting the ribs, top of the hip bone, fascia of the abdominals, and lower back. They are the largest and outermost of the three flat abdominal muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen. There are two sets of oblique muscles: external and internal obliques. External obliques sit on the outer edge of the abdomen, and internal obliques sit directly next to them, closer to the core. These muscles work together when a person twists or rotates their body at the core.
Symptoms of oblique muscle pain may include pain when repeating the movement that caused the injury and tenderness on the side of the nondominant arm. If the pain is not going away after a few weeks, physical therapy may be necessary to effectively heal the muscle and prevent further injury. Conservative treatment, such as gentle stretching exercises, usually leads to a full recovery within a few weeks. It is important to learn the difference between a strain and a sprain and to consult a doctor or physical therapist to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
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Oblique muscle strain
The oblique muscles are a group of muscles located between the pelvis and the lower end of the rib cage, making up the waist. The obliques are abdominal muscles, with the external oblique muscles being the larger muscles that lie close to the skin surface. The internal oblique muscles, on the other hand, lie deeper inside the abdomen and are situated below the external oblique muscles.
To treat an oblique muscle strain, it is important to seek treatment early to prevent the strain from becoming chronic. Applying ice to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes every few hours can help reduce swelling and pain, especially during the first few days after injury. Manual therapy, such as trigger point therapy and joint manipulation, can provide short-term pain relief and promote healing. Physical therapy stretches are also an important part of the recovery process, as they improve flexibility and reduce tension in the torso. These stretches should be gentle to prevent further injury.
In addition to manual therapy and stretching, electrical stimulation and TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation) can be effective in relieving pain and accelerating recovery. TENS targets the nerves and muscles, blocking pain signals and allowing a focus on rehabilitation. It is important to avoid activities that worsen the pain and to return to activity slowly, only performing movements that are pain-free. Maintaining proper muscle flexibility and strength is key to preventing oblique muscle strains.
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Frequently asked questions
The external oblique muscles are the largest and outermost of the three flat abdominal muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen. They extend from the lower half of the ribs around and down to the pelvis.
The internal oblique muscles are underneath the external oblique muscles on each side of the trunk. They are much thinner and smaller than the external oblique muscles.
The external oblique muscles help to pull the chest downwards and compress the abdominal cavity, increasing intra-abdominal pressure. They also allow the trunk to twist from side to side and contribute to movements of the spine.
Similar to the external oblique muscles, the internal oblique muscles also help to compress the abdominal cavity and increase intra-abdominal pressure. They rotate ipsilaterally (to the same side) when contracting.
