OF THE ABDOMEN 



425 



The superficial fascia of the abdomen consists, over the greater part of the 

 abdominal wall, of a single layer of fascia, which contains a variable amount of 

 fat; but as this layer approaches the groin it is easily divisible into two layers. 

 between which are found the superficial vessels and nerves and the superficial 

 inguinal lymph nodes. The superficial layer of the superficial fascia (fascia oj 

 Camper) is thick, areolar in texture, and contains in its meshes adipose tissue, 

 the quantity of which varies in different subjects. Below, it passes over Poupart's 

 ligament, and is continuous with the outer layer of the superficial fascia of the 

 mrh. In the male this fascia is continued over the penis and outer .surface of 



S. Dis 

 section of 

 inguinal 



hernia. 



thigh 



the cord to the scrotum, where it helps to form 

 the dartos. As it passes to the scrotum it changes 

 its character, becoming thin, destitute of adipose 

 tissue, and of a pale reddish color, and in the 

 scrotum it acquires some nonstriated muscle 

 fibres. From the scrotum it may be traced back- 

 ward to be continuous with the superficial fascia 

 of the perineum. In the female this fascia is con- 

 tinued into the labia majora. The deep layer of 

 the superficial fascia (fascia of Scarpa) is thinner 

 and more membranous in character than the 

 superficial layer, and contains a considerable 

 quantity of yellow elastic fibres. In the middle 

 line it is intimately adherent to the linea alba and 

 to the symphysis pubis, and is prolonged, in the 

 male, on to the dorsum of the penis, forming the 

 suspensory ligament of the penis; above, it joins 

 the superficial layer and is continuous with the 

 superficial fascia over the rest of the trunk; below, 

 it blends with the fascia lata of the thigh a little 

 below Poupart s ligament; and below and in- 

 ternally it is continued over the penis and 

 spermatic cord to the scrotum, where it helps to 

 form the dartos. From the scrotum it may be traced backward to be continuous 

 with the deep layer of the superficial fascia of the perineum (fascia of Colles*). In 

 the female it is continued into the labia majora. 



The deep fascia invests the External oblique muscle, but is so thin over the 

 aponeurosis of the muscle as to be scarcely recognizable. 



The External or Descending oblique muscle (m. obliauus externus abdominis) 

 (Fig. 319) is situated on the side and fore part of the abdomen; being the largest 

 and the most superficial of the three flat muscles in this region. It is broad, thin, 

 and irregularly quadrilateral, its muscular portion occupying the side, its aponeu- 

 rosis the anterior wall, of the abdomen. It arises, by .eight fleshy dictations. 

 from the external surface and lower borders of the eight inferior ribs; these 

 digitations are arranged in an oblique line running downward and backward; 

 the upper ones being attached close to the cartilages of the corresponding ribs; 

 the lowest, to the apex of the cartilage of the last rib; the intermediate ones, to 

 the ribs at some distance from their cartilages. The five superior serrations 

 increase in size from above downward, and are received between corresponding 

 processes of the Serratus magnus; the three lower ones diminish in size from 

 above downward, receiving between them corresponding processes from the Latis- 

 simus dorsi. From these attachments, the fleshy fibres proceed in various direc- 

 tions. Those from the lowest ribs pass nearly vertically downward, to be inserted 

 into the anterior half of the outer lip of the crest of the ilium; the middle and 

 upper fibres, directed downward and forward, terminate in an aponeurosis r oppo- 



FIG. 318. Dissection of abdomen. 



