Fascia and cellular spaces of the abdomen
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The superficial fascia separating the abdominal muscles from the subcutaneous tissue in the upper parts is poorly expressed.
The own fascia (fascia propria), corresponding to the layers of the muscles of the abdominal walls, forms several plates. The surface lamina is most strongly developed, covering the external oblique abdominal muscle from the outside. In the area of the superficial ring of the inguinal canal, the connective tissue fibers of this plate form interleaved fibers (fibrae intercrurales). Attached to the outer lip of the iliac crest and inguinal ligament, the surface plate of the superficial ring of the inguinal canal encompasses the spermatic cord and continues into the fascia of the muscle that lifts the testicle (fascia cremasterica). The other two plates of the fascia, directly adjacent to the inner oblique muscle of the abdomen from the front and back surfaces of the abdomen, are weaker, and they are difficult to separate from the transfer of this muscle.
The transverse fascia (fascia transversalis) covers the anterior and lateral walls of the abdominal cavity from the inside and forms, thus, most of the internal (intra-abdominal) fascia of the abdomen (fascia endoabdominalis). This fascia, lining the inside of the abdominal wall, corresponds to the formations that it covers, and receives special names (diaphragmatic fascia, fascia diafragmaticii, fascia of the large lumbar muscle, etc.).
Within the upper sections of the anterior wall of the abdomen, the transverse fascia covers the inner surface of the same muscle and forms part of the back wall of the vagina of the rectus abdominis muscle. At the level of the lower abdomen, this fascia is attached to the inguinal ligament and inner lip of the iliac crest. Medially, at the bottom of the white line of the abdomen, this fascia is strengthened by fibrous longitudinally oriented tufts, which form a "support" of the white line (adminiculum lineae albae). Below the level of the arc-shaped linea (arca arcuatae), the transverse (intra-abdominal) fascia directly forms the posterior wall of the vagina of the rectus abdominis muscle. Above the middle of the inguinal ligament, 1.5 cm above it, the fascia has an oval-shaped depression, which is a deep ring of the inguinal canal. The transverse fascia from the inside, from the side of the abdominal cavity, is covered with the peritoneum, which has a complex relief, especially in the lower sections of the anterior abdominal steppe. Here, above the level of the inguinal ligament, on either side of the anterior median line there are three pits separated from each other by well-defined longitudinal folds formed by arteries lifting the intra-abdominal fascia (and peritoneum) in these areas.
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