There are nine layers to the abdominal wall: skin, subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia, external oblique muscle, internal oblique muscle, transversus abdominis muscle, transversalis fascia, preperitoneal adipose and areolar tissue, and peritoneum. Nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics are present throughout.

What are the 9 layers of the abdominal wall?

There are nine layers to the abdominal wall: skin, subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia, external oblique muscle, internal oblique muscle, transversus abdominis muscle, transversalis fascia, preperitoneal adipose and areolar tissue, and peritoneum. Nerves, blood vessels, and lymphatics are present throughout.

What is the anterolateral abdominal wall?

Now, the anterior and lateral abdominal walls are collectively known as the anterolateral abdominal wall, mainly because the boundary between the two is not distinct. So the anterolateral abdominal wall extends from the thoracic cage down to the pelvis. The anterolateral wall is composed of many different layers.

What is the arcuate line?

The arcuate line is an area of demarcation visible from the peritoneal surface of the abdominal wall, residing one-third the distance between the umbilicus and the pubis. The arcuate line can be a sharp demarcation, or it can be a gradual transition zone where the fibers of the posterior sheath gradually disappear.[1]

What is the anterior abdominal wall?

The anterior abdominal wall forms the anterior limit of the abdominal viscera and is defined superiorly by the xiphoid process of the sternum and costal cartilages and inferiorly by the iliac crest and pubic bones of the pelvis.

What is the innermost layer of the abdominal wall?

Mucosa
Mucosa. This is the first and innermost layer or lining. It contains the glands that release digestive juices.

What is fold of Douglas?

Douglas fold – a fold of peritoneum, containing the rectouterine muscle, forming the lateral boundary of the rectouterine (Douglas) pouch. Synonym(s): sacrouterine fold. Douglas line – a crescentic line that marks the lower limit of the posterior layer of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle.

What are the layers of the abdominal wall?

This complex structure consists of numerous layers, from superficial to deep: skin, superficial fascia, muscles and their respective fasciae, and peritoneum . By the way, did you know that – technically speaking – each one of us has ‘six-pack’ shaped abs?

What separates the anterior abdominal wall from the extraperitoneal wall?

The transversalis fascia separates the anterior abdominal wall from the extraperitoneal fat. Posteriorly, the transversalis fascia is continuous with the thoracolumbar fascia. The aponeuroses of these muscles form the rectus sheath, which is divided into anterior and posterior layers.

What is below the rectus abdominis?

Immediately deep to the rectus sheath is the transversalis fascia, below which lie the two deepest layers of the abdominal wall: extraperitoneal fat and peritoneum. The rectus abdominis muscles are a pair of long, straight muscles which run vertically on either side of the anterior abdominal wall. They are separated by the linea alba.

What is the deep fascia of the anterior abdominal wall?

The deep fascia of the anterior abdominal wall directly invests the muscular layers of the anterior abdominal wall. They are made up of elastin fibres, dense fibrous connective tissue and divide the groups of muscles of the anterior abdominal wall into fascial components.