426 THE MUSCLES AND FASCIAE 



site a line drawn from the prominence of the ninth costal cartilage to the anterior 

 superior spine of the ilium. 



The aponeurosis of the External oblique is a thin, but strong membranous apon- 

 eurosis, the fibres of which are directed obliquely downward and inward. It is 

 joined with that of the opposite muscle along the median line and covers the whole 

 of the front of the abdomen; above, it is covered by and gives origin to the lower 

 border of the Pectoralis major; below, some of its fibres are inserted into the symphy- 



External abdo- 

 minal ring. 

 Gimbernaf sj 

 ligament. I 



FIG. 319. The External oblique muscle. 



sis pubis, while others pass deeply through the middle line to be attached to the 

 crest and iliopectineal line of the opposite side: these lauer fibres are lerined 

 the triangular fascia. But the great majority of the fibres below are closely aggre- 

 gated, and extend obliquely across from the anterior superior spine of the ilium 

 to the spine of the os pubis and the iliopectineal line. In the median line it inter- 

 laces with the aponeurosis of the opposite muscle, forming the linea alba, which 

 extends from the ensiform cartilage to the svmphysis pubis. 



