External abdominal oblique muscle
Table of Contents
External abdominal oblique muscle Muscle Anatomy
External abdominal oblique is a paired muscle located on the lateral sides of the abdominal wall. Along with internal abdominal oblique and transversus abdominis, it comprises the lateral abdominal muscles.
Origin
External abdominal oblique muscle originates from the external surfaces of ribs 5-12. The attaching fibers interdigitate with those of serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi muscle, forming a zig-zag oblique line on the lateral side of thorax.
Insertion
External abdominal oblique continues as an aponeurosis via which it inserts to the linea alba, pubic tubercle and anterior half of iliac crest.
Nerve supply
Thoracic spinal nerves T7-T12. Those are the intercostal nerves T7- T11 that supply the superior most part of the muscle and the subcostal nerve (T12) that innervates the lower part. The muscle receives sensory innervation from the lumbar plexus, via the iliohypogastric nerve (L1).
Blood supply
Blood supply to the upper two thirds of the external abdominal oblique comes the branches of the lower posterior intercostal and subcostal arteries, while the deep circumflex iliac artery supplies the inferior third of the muscle.
Actions:
Flexion of the torso and Contralateral rotation of torso .
Strengthening exercise
Russian Twists
- Sit up with your legs out in front of you, knees bent and your heels on the floor, your back at a 45-degree angle to the floor. Hold a medicine ball or dumbbell (try 8 to 10 pounds) with both hands by your stomach.
- Keep your back straight and medicine ball in close to your torso as you twist to the right and left.
Sit ups to twist :–
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor.
- Place your hands behind your head, engage your core and do a full sit-up. At the top of the sit-up, bring your right elbow to your left knee and twist your body toward that side.
- Lower back down to start.
- Repeat this movement alternating sides each time.
Side planks
- Start on your side with your feet stacked on top of each other and your bottom forearm directly below your shoulder.
- Engage your core and raise your hips until your body is in a straight line from head to toe.
- Hold this exact position without letting your hips drop for 30 seconds or more, then repeat on the other side.
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