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External oblique
Other Terms:
External abdominal oblique muscle,
Musculus obliquus externus abdominis,
Obliquus externus abdominis muscle,
Muscle oblique externe de l'abdomen
Muscle parts
Outer layer; Inner layer
Latin name
Musculus obliquus externus abdominis
Latin muscle parts
Laminae externus; Laminae internus
Group
Abdominal wall – lateral musculature – external layer
Etymology
This muscle’s name in English is the outer slanting muscle of the belly. The Latin term obliquus means slanting or sideways and describes its orientation.The Latin term externus means “outward.”The word abdomen is of uncertain etymology. Two possible origins of this word are from the Latin abdere meaning “to stow away,” which the abdomen does to the digestive organs. The other possibility is that it comes from adipem meaning “fat.”
Origin
External surfaces and inferior borders of lower 8 ribs
Insertion
Linea alba
Action
Help compresses the abdominal cavity; compress and depress the lower thoracic cavity to aid in expiration; rotates trunk to opposite side; weakly assists in flexion
Nerve supply
Intercostal nerves 7 through 11 and subcostal nerve (T12)
Blood supply
Numerous arteries supply and anastomose within this extensive muscle sheet including the superior and inferior epigastric arteries, posterior intercostal arteries from the three lowest intercostal spaces, the subcostal artery, the musculophrenic artery, superficial epigastric artery, superficial circumflex iliac artery, ascending branch of the deep circumflex iliac artery, lumbar arteries.
Latin
Musculus obliquus externus abdominis
Latin
Obliquus externus abdominis muscle
French
Muscle oblique externe de l'abdomen