Internal Oblique

Time To Read

2–3 minutes

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Illustration of the rectus abdominis and external obliques, highlighting their anatomical relationships
Illustration of the rectus abdominis and external obliques, highlighting their anatomical relationships

The internal abdominal obliques are sandwiched between the transverse abdominis and the rectus abdominis. They are just as difficult to work out as the external obliques.

Origin

The internal abdominal obliques originate from several points: the inguinal ligament, iliac crest, and thoracolumbar fascia. They also have attachments to the lower three or four ribs.

Insertion

Fibers converge and attach to the linea alba. They also attach to the pubic crest, the xiphoid process of the sternum, and the cartilages of the lower three or four ribs.

Actions

  • Posture and Movement
  • Lateral Flexion
  • Trunk Rotation and Flexion

Internal oblique muscle anatomy. Human torso showing muscle layers and direction.
Internal oblique muscle anatomy. Human torso showing muscle layers and direction.
Photography, text, and labels by Rob Swatski, Assistant Professor of Biology, Harrisburg Area Community College – York Campus, York, PA.

Deciphering Models

Muscle models are designed so that the right side of the model will have all muscles in place. You can only see what is superficial. On the left side of most models, certain elements are intentionally altered. I mean the model’s left side, not your left side. Some aponeuroses and even some superficial muscles are removed. This is the case with the abdominal muscles.

The abdominal muscles can be ordered from deep to superficial: transverse abdominis, internal oblique, rectus abdominis, external oblique. Think of them like aprons that you are putting on. The transverse abdominis is the apron with fibers running right to left across your squishy guts. This is also the muscle that, when cut in a C-section, refuses to go back to its prior state. There are three more aprons over the transverse abdominis. They include the internal oblique, the rectus abdominis, and the external oblique. This is their order from deep to superficial.

The muscles on the left side of a muscle model are removed. However, the transverse abdominis is still not visible without removing the front plate of the model. This is what you see in the picture below. That is the inside of the ribs and abdomen. This is usually the only way you can see the transverse abdominis in a muscle model.

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