Week 5 Notes
Anterolateral Abdominal Wall
Inguinal Canal
Objectives
1. Name the quadrants and regions of the anterolateral abdominal wall and describe the
planes used to separate them
2. Name, in order, the layers of the anterolateral abdominal wall
3. Describe the origin, insertion, action and nerve supply of the muscles of the
anterolateral abdominal wall
4. Describe the structure of the rectus sheath and lists its contents
5. Name the nerves of the anterolateral abdominal wall, describe their course and list the
structures they supply
6. Name the arteries of the anterolateral abdominal wall, describe their origin and course
and list the structures they supply
7. 7. Name the superficial and deep veins of the anterolateral abdominal wall and indicate
the veins into which they drain
8. 8. Describe the superficial and deep lymphatic drainage of the anterolateral abdominal
wall
9. 9. Discuss common disorders affecting the structures of the anterolateral abdominal
wall
10. Describe the location, openings, walls and contents of the inguinal canal
11. Define inguinal hernia and compare direct and indirect inguinal hernias
Regions of the Anterolateral Abdominal Wall
• symptoms and signs of abdominal diseases are located and recorded with reference to
regions mapped out on anterolateral abdominal wall
• abdominal quadrants:
• anterolateral abdominal wall is divided into 4 quadrants (upper right, upper left,
lower right and lower left quadrants) by a vertical plane and a horizontal plane
that intersect at umbilicus
• vertical and horizontal planes:
• subcostal plane → horizontal plane that connects lowest points of right and left
costal margins (10th costal cartilages) → lies at the level of body of L3, near its
upper border
• transtubercular plane → horizontal plane connecting tubercles of right and left
iliac crests → lies at the level of body of L5, near its upper border
• midclavicular plane → vertical plane that passes through midpoint of clavicle
and intersects halfway a line connecting anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to
pubic tubercle
• 2 midclavicular planes and 2 horizontal planes (subcostal and transtubercular) are used
to divide anterolateral abdominal wall into 9 regions:
• upper part (above subcostal plane): consists of epigastric region or epigastrium
(center) and right and left hypochondriac regions
• middle part (between subcostal and transtubercular planes): consists of
umbilical region (center) and right and left lateral regions (lumbar regions or
flanks)
• lower part (below transtubercular plane): consists of pubic, hypogastric region
or hypogastrium (center) and right and left inguinal (iliac) regions
Layers of the Anterolateral Abdominal Wall (Superficial to Deep)
• skin
• superficial fascia
• muscles with their deep (investing) fasciae
• transversalis fascia
• extraperitoneal fascia
• parietal peritoneum
Superficial Fascia
• divided into 2 layers in lower part of anterior abdominal wall:
Document Summary
Name the superficial and deep veins of the anterolateral abdominal wall and indicate the veins into which they drain: 8. Describe the superficial and deep lymphatic drainage of the anterolateral abdominal wall: 9. Discuss common disorders affecting the structures of the anterolateral abdominal wall: describe the location, openings, walls and contents of the inguinal canal, define inguinal hernia and compare direct and indirect inguinal hernias. Layers of the anterolateral abdominal wall (superficial to deep) skin superficial fascia muscles with their deep (investing) fasciae transversalis fascia extraperitoneal fascia parietal peritoneum. Abdominal muscles (see description starting on following page) Muscles of the anterolateral abdominal wall (netter"s plate 255 and 253) Inguinal ligament forms boundary between abdomen and thigh superficial inguinal ring opening in external oblique aponeurosis located immediately superior to pubic tubercle it is the anterior (superficial) opening of inguinal canal. Internal oblique located immediately deep to external oblique. Origin: thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest and lateral of inguinal ligament.
