Rectus abdominis muscle
Last revised by Anthony Liu
on 18 Feb 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Liu A, Mohamed M, et al. Rectus abdominis muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24536
Permalink:
rID:
24536
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
18 Feb 2024,
Anthony Liu
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Anthony Liu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Anthony Liu's current disclosures
Revisions:
10 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Rectus abdominis
- ReAb
The rectus abdominis muscle is strap-like in appearance and forms part of the anterior abdominal wall and is enclosed by the rectus sheath.
Summary
origin: pubic symphysis, tubercle and crest
insertion: xiphisternum and 5th-7th costal cartilages
action: supports abdominal viscera, compression of the abdomen, trunk movement
blood supply: superior and inferior epigastric arteries
innervation: lower intercostal and subcostal nerves (T7-T12) 2
Gross anatomy
The rectus abdominis has three-to-four horizontal tendinous intersections that divide the muscle into segments, which are often incomplete posteriorly. It is divided into two halves by the vertical linea alba. Laterally, the rectus sheath fuses to form the linea semilunaris.
References
- 1.Rosse C, Gaddum-Rosse P. Hollinshead's textbook of anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (1997) ISBN:0397512562. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2.Robert M. H. McMinn. Last's Anatomy. (2019) ISBN: 9780729543576 - Google Books
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Carnett sign
- External oblique muscle
- Linea alba
- Transversalis fascia
- Intercostal nerve
- Superior epigastric artery
- Typical ribs
- Arcuate line
- Pubis
- Diastasis recti
- Medical abbreviations and acronyms (A)
- Ribs
- Rectus sheath hematoma
- Component separation index
- Xiphisternum
- Transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap
- Semilunar line
- Caesarean section
- Pyramidalis muscle
- Abdominal surface anatomy
Cases:
- Rectus muscle tear with haematoma
- Incisional hernia
- Spigelian hernia
- Desmoid tumour
- Rectus abdominis muscle desmoid tumor
- Buried bumper syndrome
- Endometriosis in abdominal wall
- Rectus abdominis muscle tear
- Rectus sheath hematoma
- Diastasis recti
- Diastasis recti
- Anterior abdominal wall (Gray's illustration)
- Spigelian hernia
- Rectus abdominis muscle strain
- Ruptured rectus abdominis muscle
- Epiploic appendagitis
- Delayed traumatic splenic rupture
- Cellulitis with injury of the abdominal wall following liposuction
- Tubo-ovarian abscess projecting into the canal of Nuck
- Rectus abdominis haematoma following caesarean section
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
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- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis[+][+]
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
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- gastrointestinal tract
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- hepatobiliary system
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endocrine system
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adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
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adrenal gland
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urinary system
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kidney
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variants
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- ureter
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kidney
- male reproductive system
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female reproductive system
- vulva
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- uterus
- adnexa
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- variant anatomy
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abdominal aorta
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common iliac artery
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internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
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internal pudendal artery
- inferior rectal artery
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perineal artery
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- artery to the bulb
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- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- anterior division
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abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
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- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis[+][+]
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sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
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- perforating cutaneous nerve
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- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
- autonomic ganglia and plexuses
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