MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



541 



fleshy into the anterior half of the crest of the ilium at its 

 outer edge, and from the anterior superior spinous process of 

 the ilium it descends in the form of a cord under the name 

 ofPoupart's ligament, (which ligament is regarded simply as 

 a folding or reflection of the lower margin of this muscle,) 

 to the spine and front of the puhis, and thence along the 

 pectineal line forming Gimbernat's ligament. 



When the two external oblique muscles are neatly exposed 

 the following points are noticed, the linea-alba, umbilicus^ 

 FIG. 168. lineae semilunareSjlineas transver- 



se, and the external abdominal or 

 inguinal ring. The linea alba ex- 

 tends from the ensiform cartilage, 

 along the median line to the sym- 

 physis puhis. It is formed by the 

 common union of the tendons of 

 the oblique and transverse mus- 

 cles of opposite sides, which pre- 

 sent the form of a strong ligament- 

 ous band, whose greatest width 

 and thickness is at the umbilicus. 

 The umbilicus is situated at or a 

 little below the centre of the linea 

 alba. It is called the navel, and 

 in the fcetus is a foramen through 

 which pass the umbilical vein, arteries, and urachus. 

 These several parts in the adult become ligamentous cords, 

 being no longer open vessels, which, with the cellular tis- 

 sue that surrounds and connects them together, and to the 

 tendinous margin of the foramen, fill up this opening. The 

 integument mostly containing fat in the adult, presents at 

 the umbilicus a depression. Umbilical hernia occasionally 

 occurs at this place. The linece semilunares are two white 



FIG. 168 represents right Inguinal Hernia, a Inferior portion of aponeurotic 

 tendon of external oblique, b Poupart's ligament, c Anterior superior spinous 

 process, d Spine of pubis. e External abdominal ring. / Upper column of 

 the ring, g Lower column of the ring, h Semilunar fibres of curved shape, 

 and designed to strengthen the ring, i Iliac portion of fascia lata. j Pubic 

 portion, k Saphenic opening. I Falciform edge. 



