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Rectus abdominis
Other Terms:
Abs,
Musculus rectus abdominis,
Muscle droit de l'abdomen
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus rectus abdominis
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Abdominal wall – ventral muscle
Etymology
The English name for this muscle is the straight muscle of the belly. The word rectus is Latin for “straight.”The word abdomen is of uncertain etymology. Two possible origins of this word are from the Latin abdere meaning “to stow away,” which the abdomen does to the digestive organs. The other possibility is that it comes from adipem meaning “fat,” because the belly can be the source of lots of fat storage.
Origin
Crest of pubis
Insertion
Costal cartilages of ribs 5, 6, and 7
Action
Flexes the lumbar vertebral column; helps compress the abdominal cavity
Nerve supply
Intercostal nerves (T7 to T11) and subcostal nerve (T12)
Blood supply
Superior epigastric and inferior epigastric arteries; also receives supply from the superficial epigastric artery.
Latin
Musculus rectus abdominis
French
Muscle droit de l'abdomen