Your Abdominal Muscles have many important functions, from holding organs in place to supporting your body during movement. There are five main muscles: pyramidalis, rectus abdominus, external obliques, internal obliques, and transversus abdominis. Ab strains and hernias are common, but several strategies can keep your abs safe and healthy. What are the abdominal muscles?
Your abdominal muscles are a set of strong bands of muscles lining the walls of your abdomen (trunk of your body). They’re located toward the front of your body, between your ribs and your pelvis.
There are five main muscles in the abdomen:
External obliques.
Internal obliques.
Pyramidalis.
Rectus abdominis.
Transversus abdominis.
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Function
What are the functions of your abdominal muscles?
Your abdominal muscles have several important jobs:
Help with essential bodily functions, including urinating, defecating, coughing, sneezing, vomiting. They help also increase the intra-abdominal pressure facilitating child birth.
Hold your internal organs in place and protect them (including your stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver and gallbladder).
Maintain consistent internal pressure in the abdomen.
Maintain posture and provide core support.
Support your spine and body during sitting, standing, bending over, twisting, exercising and singing.
Anatomy
Where are your abdominal muscles located?
There are five main muscles in your abdomen. Two are vertical (up and down) muscles located toward the middle of your body. Three are flat muscles stacked on top of each other, situated toward the sides of the trunk.
The two vertical muscles are:
Pyramidalis: This vertical muscle is small and shaped like a triangle. It’s located very low, in your pelvis. It helps maintain internal pressure in your abdomen.
Rectus abdominis: This pair of muscles goes down the middle of your abdomen from your ribs to the front of your pelvis. The muscles hold your internal organs in place and keep your body stable during movement. The rectus abdominis may form bumps sometimes called a “six-pack” when someone has a trim, fit abdomen.
The three flat muscles are:
External obliques: The external obliques are a pair of muscles, one on each side of the rectus abdominis. They are the largest of the flat muscles and at the bottom of the stack. They run from the sides of your body toward the middle. The external obliques allow the trunk to twist side to side.
Internal obliques: The internal obliques are a pair of muscles on top of the external obliques, just inside your hip bones. Like the external obliques, they are on the sides of the rectus abdominis, running from the sides of your trunk toward the middle. They work with the external oblique muscles to allow the trunk to twist and turn.
Transversus abdominis: The transversus abdominis is at the bottom of the stack. This pair of muscles is the deepest of the flat muscles. They stabilize the trunk and help maintain internal abdominal pressure.