CLAP TER. 1 
WOUSELES OF THE, ABDOMEN AND AB 
DOMINAI VISCERA, 
MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN. 
Make a median inceston through the skin and fat 
extending from the middle of the sternum to the sym 
physis pubis, at the two ends of this make lateral in 
cestons on each side, and reflect the flaps of skin to- 
gether with the subjacent fat. The muscular portion 
of the abdominal wall will be exposed. 
I. The Linea Alba is the white line extending 
along the ventral mid-line of the abdomen; it is 
formed by the fusion of the tendons of the muscles 
of the two sides. 
2. The External Oblique Muscle arises by fleshy 
slips from the posterior ribs, from the fourth to the 
thirteenth, and in part from the fascia below the 
thirteenth rib; the fibres pass obliquely inward and 
posteriorly, and end in a broad, thin aponeurosis lying 
along the middle of the abdominal wall and fusing 
with its fellow of the opposite side. 
Make an incision through the aponcurosts at tts junc- 
tron with the muscle fibres, and reflect the muscle out- 
ward, separating tt carefully from the muscles beneath, 
