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The white line of the abdomen
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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The white line of the abdomen (linea alba) is a fibrous plate extending along the anterior midline from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis. The line is formed by the crossing fibers of the aponeuroses of the broad abdominal muscles (oblique and transverse) of the right and left sides.
In the upper sections, where the medial edges of the rectus abdominis muscles are at a large distance from each other, the white line is wider (up to 2.5 cm in diameter) than in the lower part. From the level of the navel in the direction of the pubic symphysis, the white line noticeably narrows, and its thickness in the sagittal plane increases.
The white line of the abdomen is very strong. It contains only thin branches of blood vessels, so when making incisions along the white line during surgery, there is almost no bleeding. Surgeons use this when it is necessary to create wide access to the abdominal and pelvic organs.
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