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Dissection of anterolateral abdominal wall

Relation of transversus abdominis muscle to sheath of rectus below costal margin

Image #134-4

KEYWORDS: Muscles and tendons.

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Dissection of anterolateral abdominal wall

Relation of transversus abdominis muscle to sheath of rectus below costal margin

The left rectus muscle has been detached from its origin and reflected medially. The layers which comprise its sheath have been separated from each other near the lateral border of the muscle. The aponeurosis of the internal oblique (7) contributes to the anterior as well as to the posterior lamina of the sheath at this level. Anteriorly it fuses with the aponeurosis of the external oblique (16). The transversus muscle (14) passes posterior to the aponeurosis of the internal oblique to become aponeurotic approximately midway in its course behind the rectus muscle.

1 .	Xiphoid process
2 .	Superior epigastric artery
3 .	Left rectus abdominis muscle (reflected)
4 .	Intercostal nerve VII (branch to rectus muscle)
5 .	Tendinous inscriptions
6 .	Right rectus abdominis muscle (sheath opened)
7 .	Sheath of rectus abdominis muscle (pointers on posterior and anterior lamina derived from aponeurosis of internal oblique)
8 .	Internal intercostal muscle
9 .	Costochondral junction
10 .	Interchondral joint
11 .	Rib VII
12 .	External intercostal muscle
13 .	Intercostal nerve VIII
14 .	Transversus abdominis muscle
15 .	Aponeurosis of Internal oblique muscle
16 .	External oblique muscle (cut across and reflected)
17 .	Intercostal nerve X
18 .	Internal oblique muscle (cut across)
19 .	Sheath of rectus abdominis muscle (anterior layer)
20 .	Linea alba