OF THE ABDOMEN 429 



Gimbernat's ligament (ligamentum lacunare) (Figs. 320 and 328) is that part 

 of Poupart's ligament which is reflected to the iliopectineal line. It is about half 

 an inch in length, more prominent in the male than in the female, almost hori- 

 zontal in direction in the erect posture, and of a triangular form with the base 

 directed outward. Its base, or outer margin, is concave, thin, and sharp, and lies 

 in contact with the crural sheath, forming the inner boundary of the femoral or 

 crural ring (annulus femoralis). Its apex corresponds to the spine of the os pubis. 

 Its deep margin is attached to the iliopectineal line, and is continuous with the 

 pubic portion of the fascia lata. Its superficial margin is continuous with Pou- 

 part's ligament. Its surfaces are directed upward and downward. 



Triangular Fascia (ligamentum inguinale reflexurn). The triangular fascia of 

 the abdomen is a triangular layer of tendinous fibres, which comes from the 

 aponeurosis of the opposite External oblique, and is attached by its apex to 

 the iliopectineal line, where it is continuous with Gimbernat's ligament. It lies 

 beneath the spermatic cord, behind the inner pillar of the external abdominal 

 ring, and in fron^ of the conjoined tendon. 



Ligament of Cooper (Fig. 330). This is a strong ligamentous band, which was first 

 described by Sir Astley Cooper. It extends upward and backward from the base of Gim- 

 bernat's ligament along the iliopectineal line, to which it is attached. It is strengthened by the 

 fascia transversalis, by the iliopectineal aponeurosis, and by a lateral expansion from the, lower 

 attachment of the linea alba (adminiculum tineas albae). 



Dissection. Detach the External oblique by dividing it across, just in front of its attach- 

 ment to the ribs, as far as its posterior border, and separate it below from the crest of the ilium 

 as far as the anterior superior spine; then separate the muscle carefully from the Internal oblique, 

 which lies beneath, and turn it toward the opposite side. 



The Internal or Ascending oblique muscle (m. oibliquus internus abdominis) 

 (Fig. 321), thinner and smaller than the preceding, beneath which it lies, is of 

 an irregularly quadrilateral form, and is situated at the side and fore part of the 

 abdomen. It arises, by fleshy fibres, from the outer half of Poupart's ligament. 

 to the groove on the upper surface of which it is attached; from the anterior two- 

 ihirds of the middle lip of the crest of the ilium, and from the posterior lamella of 

 the lumbar fascia (Fig. 327). From this origin the fibres diverge; those from Pou- 

 part's ligament, few in number and paler in color than the rest, arch downward and 

 inward across the spermatic cord in the male and across the round ligament in 

 the female, and, becoming tendinous, are inserted, conjointly with those of the 

 Transversalis,, into the crest of the os pubis and iliopectineal line, to the extent 

 of half an inch or more, forming ' wnrrris known as the conjoined tendon of the 

 Internal oblique and Transversalis. The fibres from the anterior third of the 

 iliac origin are horizontal in their direction, and, becoming tendinous along 

 the lower fourth of the linea semilunaris, pass in front of the Rectus muscle to be 

 inserted into the linea alba: those "which arise from the middle third of the origin 

 from the crest of the ilium pass obliquely upward and inward, and terminate 

 in an aponeurosis which divides at the outer border of the Rectus muscle into 

 two lamellae (Fig. 328), and are continued forward, in front and behind this muscle, 

 to be inserted into the linea alba. The posterior lamella is also connected to the 

 cartilages of the seventh, eighth, and ninth ribs; the fibres arising most posteriorly 

 pass almost vertically upward, to be inserted into the lower borders of the cartilages 

 of the three lower ribs, and are continuous with the Internal intercostal muscles. 

 The lower fibres of this muscle are continuous with the Cremaster. 



The aponeurosis of the Internal oblique is continued forward to the middle of the 

 abdomen, where it joins with the aponeurosis of the opposite muscle at the linea 

 alba, and extends from the costal arch to the os pubis. At the outer margin of 

 the Rectus muscle this aponeurosis, for the upper three-fourths of its extent, 



