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Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences: Human Structure Module
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  9. Topographical Anatomy of the Abdomen

Topographical Anatomy of the Abdomen

Structure/SpaceDescription/BoundariesSignificance
arcuate lineanatomical feature on the inner surface of the abdominal wall; a fascial line in the transverse plane approximately 1/2 of the distance from the umbilicus to the pubic symphysisarcuate line is the point at which the posterior lamina of the rectus sheath ends and transversalis fascia lines the inner surface of the rectus abdominis m.
epigastric regionan area on the anterior abdominal wall between the midclavicular lines, superior to the transpyloric lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen
hypochondriac regionan area on the anterior abdominal wall lateral to the midclavicular line, superior to the transpyloric lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen; bilateral
hypogastric regionan area on the anterior abdominal wall between the midclavicular lines, inferior to the intertubercular lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen; also known as: pubic region
inguinal regionanterior abdominal wall lateral to midclavicular line, inferior to intertubercular lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen; also known as: iliac region
intercristal linean imaginary line drawn in the horizontal plane at the upper margin of the iliac crestsintercristal line locates the level of the L4 vertebra; a useful landmark in spinal tap procedure
intertubercular linean imaginary line drawn in the horizontal plane at the upper margin of the iliac tuberclesintertubercular line locates the level of the L5 vertebra; used with midinguinal and transpyloric lines to divide the abdominal wall into 9 regions
linea albaanatomical feature on the midline of the anterior abdominal wall; an aponeurotic band that extends from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis; linea alba is formed by the combined abdominal muscle aponeuroses; it is used for midline abdominal incisions to avoid major nerves or vessels
lumbar regionan area on the anterior abdominal wall lateral to the midclavicular line, inferior to transpyloric line, superior to intertubercular lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen; also known as: lateral region
McBurney's pointa point on the anterior abdominal wall which is 1/3 of the distance along a line from the right anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicusMcBurney's point is the approximate location of the vermiform appendix; point of tenderness in appendicitis
midaxillary linean imaginary vertical line passing through the middle of the axillaused as a surface landmark for descriptive purposes
midclavicular linean imaginary vertical line passing through the midshaft of the clavicleused as a surface landmark for descriptive purposes
midinguinal linean imaginary vertical line passing through the midpoint of inguinal ligamentused with the transpyloric and intertubercular lines to divide the abdomen into 9 regions
quadrant, inferior lefta region on the anterior abdominal wall defined by the midline and the transumbilical lineone of 4 abdominal quadrants
quadrant, inferior righta region on the anterior abdominal wall defined by the midline and the transumbilical lineone of 4 abdominal quadrants
quadrant, superior lefta region on the anterior abdominal wall defined by the midline and the transumbilical lineone of 4 abdominal quadrants
quadrant, superior righta region on the anterior abdominal wall defined by the midline and the transumbilical lineone of 4 abdominal quadrants
semilunar linean anatomical feature of the anterior abdominal wall; the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis m.semilunar line is formed by the fused aponeuroses of the abdominal wall mm. at the lateral margin of the rectus sheath
transpyloric linean imaginary horizontal line 1/2 of the distance between the jugular notch and the pubic cresttranspyloric line is used with the midinguinal and intertubercular lines to divide the abdominal wall into 9 regions; the fundus of the gall bladder lies at the intersection of the transpyloric line with the right 9th costal cartilage; the pylorus of the stomach is located at this plane; a horizontal plane through the transpyloric line locates the level of the L1 vertebra
transumbilical linean imaginary horizontal line through the umbilicustransumbilical line is used with the midline to divide abdomen into 4 quadrants
transverse linesanatomical features in the anterior abdominal wall; folds in the anterior abdominal wall (usually 3) transverse lines are creases that overlie the tendinous intersections in the rectus abdominis m.
umbilical regiona region on the anterior abdominal wall between the midclavicular lines, inferior to the transpyloric line, superior to the intertubercular lineone of 9 regions of the abdomen
umbilicusremnant of the attachment of the umbilical cord to the anterior abdominal wall umbilicus marks the approximate level of the L3/L4 intervertebral disc in non-obese individuals
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