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What are my Abs?


 

Abs are used to describe the front abdominal wall but this area of the body includes more muscles and other body structures than just your rectus abdominis.  There are three layers of muscle forming your abdominal wall.  

The deep layer comprises of the transversus abdominis and the rectus abdominis.  

Your transversus abdominis is a muscle that give you a big tummy hug.  It wraps all the way around you from your lower ribs to you pelvis across your middle (meeting at the linea alba (fibrous white structure that runs down the middle of the abdomen)) also attaching to the thoracolumbar fascia (a fibrous structure) in your back.  Your trans abs compress and support your abdominal contents.   

The rectus abdominis is also in this deep layer of muscle, this muscles runs from the pubic bone to the sternum and if very well developed is responsible for the 8 abdominal muscles that can viewed on a bat man costume.  This muscle is responsible for movement like flexion (curling up) and lateral flexion (pretending to be an airplane tilting side to side). 

The middle layer comprises of the internal obliques.  Similarly to the trans abs this muscle is giving you a big tummy hug.  However it works a bit like cardboard.  The fibers of the internal obliques run in a different direction to the fibers of the the trans abs, building up core strength and taking some movement responsibility like rotation. 

The superficial (top) layer comprises of the external obliques.  You have guessed it.  Again this muscle is similar to the trans abs and the internal obliques and is the final tummy hug giving muscle. Again the fibers run in a slightly different direction, adding to strength and taking on movement responsibility like rotation.  

My key point from this very, very high level anatomical piece of writing is not to underestimate rotation when working on your abs.  Having great abs is not just about curl ups.  Having great abs is about having a balanced programme of strength training and making sure that includes rotation. 


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