THE ANTERO-LATERAL MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN 



415 



weak point in the abdominal wall. Lateral to the falx is a ligamentous band con- 

 nected with the lower margin of the Transversus and extending down in front of the 

 inferior epigastric artery to the superior ramus of the pubis; it is termed the inter- 

 foveolar ligament of Hesselbach (Fig. 398) and sometimes contains a few muscular 

 fibers. 



FIG. 397. The Transversus abdominis, Rectus abdominis, and Pyramidalis. 



The Rectus abdominis (Fig. 397) is a long flat muscle, which extends along 

 the whole length of the front of the abdomen, and is separated from its fellow 

 of the opposite side by the linea alba. It is much broader, but thinner, above than 

 below, and arises by two tendons; the lateral or larger is attached to the crest 

 of the pubis, the medial interlaces with its fellow of the opposite side, and is con- 

 nected with the ligaments covering the front of the symphysis pubis. The muscle 

 is inserted by three portions of unequal size into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, 

 and seventh ribs. The upper portion, attached principally to the cartilage of the 



tuiu sevi 



