Rectus abdominis
Rectus abdominis
The Rectus abdominis (/ˈrɛktəs æbˈdɒmɪnɪs/), commonly known as the "abdominal muscle", is a paired muscle running vertically on each side of the anterior wall of the human abdomen.
Etymology
The term "Rectus abdominis" comes from the Latin words 'rectus', meaning 'straight', and 'abdominis', meaning 'of the abdomen'. This refers to the muscle's straight orientation along the abdomen.
Anatomy
The Rectus abdominis is one of the major muscles in the abdominal region. It originates at the pubic bone and extends up to the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. It is enclosed in the Rectus sheath, a fibrous sheath formed by the aponeuroses of the abdominal external oblique muscle, the abdominal internal oblique muscle, and the transversus abdominis muscle.
Function
The primary function of the Rectus abdominis is to move the body between the pelvis and the ribcage. It plays a crucial role in respiration when the ribcage is fixed, and also in defecation and childbirth. It is also responsible for the flexing of the lumbar spine, as in doing a 'sit-up' exercise.
Related Terms
- Abdominal muscles
- Abdominal external oblique muscle
- Abdominal internal oblique muscle
- Transversus abdominis muscle
- Rectus sheath
- Respiration
- Defecation
- Childbirth
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rectus abdominis
- Wikipedia's article - Rectus abdominis
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