540 



MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN". 



tilages. The five superior heads interlock with the ser- 

 Fio. 167. ratus major 



anticus ; the 

 three inferior 

 with the latis- 

 simus-dorsi, 

 by which lat- 

 ter it is a lit- 

 tle overlapped. 

 The fibres of 

 the first head 

 blend with, 

 and are fre- 

 quently cov- 

 ered by a slip 

 from the pec- 

 tor alis major. 

 At the supe- 

 rior part this 

 muscle ap- 

 pears thin 

 and aponeu- 

 rotic, and so 



weak as to be not unfrequently removed, without great 

 care in dissection. It descends in a broad, thin, aponeuro- 

 tic tendon, which meets its fellow the whole extent of the 

 linea alba, and the two together cover the whole front 

 surface of the abdomen. The posterior and lateral portions 

 are muscular. It is inserted into the linea alba, where it 

 joins its fellow, into the ensiform cartilage, tendinous and 



FIG. 167 represents the superficial Muscles of the anterior walls of the Abdo- 

 men. 1 Pectoralis major. 2 Deltoid. 3 Latissimus dorsi. 4 Serratus- 

 major-anticus. 5 Subclavius. 6 Pectoralis minor. 7 Coraco-brachialis. 8 

 Biceps flexor cubiti. 9 Coracoid process of scapula. 10 Serratus major 

 anticus, after removing external oblique. 11 External intercostal muscle. 

 12 External oblique. 13 Its tendon. 14 Poupart's ligament. 15 External 

 abdominal ring. 16 Rectus-abdominis. 17 Pyramidalis. 18 Internal ob- 

 lique. 19 Common tendon of internal oblique and transversalis. 20 Crural 

 arch. 21 Fascia lata. 22 Saphenous opening. 



