anatomy of abdominal cavity

abdominal wall cavity
TO EXPLORE ABDOMINAL WALL MUSCULATURE
• TO EXPLORE THE CONCEPT OF REFERRED PAIN
• DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURE AND LAYERS OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL
• DESCRIBE THE MAJOR LANDMARKS OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL
• DESCRIBE COMMONLY USED SURGICAL INCISIONS IN THE ABDOMINAL WALL

ABDOMINAL WALL IS SUBDIVIDED INTO THE ANTERIOR WALL, RIGHT AND LEFT LATERAL WALLS AND THE POSTERIOR WALL. THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE ANTERIOR AND THE LATERAL WALLS IS INDEFINITE; THE TERM ANTEROLATERAL ABDOMINAL WALL IS USED.
LANDMARKS OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL
UMBILICUS : OBVIOUS FEATURE OF THE ANTEROLATERAL ABDOMINAL WALL AT SPINAL LEVEL L3
EPIGASTRIC FOSSA (PIT OF THE STOMACH):
SLIGHT DEPRESSION IN THE EPIGASTRIC REGION, JUST INFERIOR TO THE XIPHOID PROCESS. PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN A PERSON IS IN THE SUPINE POSITION BECAUSE THE ABDOMINAL ORGANS SPREAD OUT. HEARTBURN IS COMMONLY FELT AT THIS SITE.
Linea Alba
Aponeuroses of abdominal muscles, separating the left and right rectus abdominis. Visible in lean individuals because of the vertical skin groove superficial to it. If the linea alba is lax, when the rectus abdominis contract the muscles spread apart. This is called divarication of recti.
Pubic Crest and Symphysis
The upper margins of the pubic bones and the cartilaginous joint