CHAPTER I. 



MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN AND AB 

 DOMINAL VISCERA. 



MUSCLES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



Make a median incision throtigh the skin and fat 

 extending from the middle of the sternum to the sym 

 physis pubis ; at the two ends of this make latei^al in 

 cisions on each side, and reflect the flaps of skin to- 

 gether with the subjacent fat. The miiscular portion 

 of the abdominal wall will be exposed. 



1. The Linea Alba is the white line extending 

 along the ventral mid-line of the abdomen ; it is 

 formed by the fusion of the tendons of the muscles 

 of the two sides. 



2. The External Oblique Muscle arises by fleshy 

 slips from the posterior ribs, from the fourth to the 

 thirteenth, and in part from the fascia below the 

 thirteenth rib ; the fibres pass obliquely inward and 

 posteriorly, and end in a broad, thin aponeurosis lying 

 along the middle of the abdominal wall and fusing 

 with its fellow of the opposite side. 



Make an incision through the aponeurosis at its jicnc- 

 tion with the miiscle fibres, and reflect the mttscle out- 

 ward, separatir.g it carefully from the muscles beneath. 



