ABDOMINAL MUSCLES. 333 



Use. To assist the former ; but it bends the trunk in the 

 reverse direction. 



Fig. 84.* 



3. Transversalis, 



Arises, tendinous, but soon becoming fleshy, from the inner 

 or back part of the cartilages of the seven lower ribs, where 

 some of its fibres are continued with those of the diaphragm 

 and the intercostal muscles ; by a broad thin tendon, connected 

 to the transverse processes of the last vertebra of the back, and 

 the four superior vertebrae of the loins ; fleshy, from the whole 

 spine of the os ilium internally, and from the tendon of the 

 external oblique muscle where it intermixes with some fibres 

 of the internal oblique. 



Inserted into the cartilago-ensiformis, and into the whole 

 length of the linea alba, excepting its lowermost part. 



Use. To support and compress the abdominal viscera, and 



* Transverse section of abdomen. a, Division of the tendon of the internal 

 oblique into two layers, forming a sheath in which is contained the rectus muscle 

 b, External oblique, r, Internal oblique, d. Transversalis. e t Between the 

 last rib and the crista of the ilia, the fibres of the transversalis, arise from a 

 tendinous layer, which is trifoliate in its origin, according to Todd. /, The 

 anterior division, arising from the roots of the transverse processes, and cover- 

 ing the quadratus lumborum muscle, h, g, The middle, which is weak, attached 

 to the apices of the transverse processes. The posterior is the fascia lum 

 borum. 



