Abdominal Muscles

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 superficialNear the surface of the body.. 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 deepAway from the surface of the body. to superficial: transverse abdominisCompressor Deepest abdominal layer; squeezes abdominal contents and stabilizes core., internal obliqueFlexor / Rotator Under external oblique; helps twist and compress abdomen., rectus abdominis, external obliqueFlexor Runs vertically along belly; flexes spine, the ‘six-pack’ muscle.. 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 ribsCurved bones forming the rib cage; articulate with thoracic vertebrae and most with the sternum. and abdomen. This is usually the only way you can see the transverse abdominis in a muscle model.