|Actions||Movement and support for the torso|
Assistance with breathin'
Protection for the bleedin' inner organs
The abdomen (colloquially called the bleedin' belly, tummy, midriff or stomach) is the feckin' part of the body between the feckin' thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. Sufferin' Jaysus listen to this. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the oul' torso, you know yerself. The area occupied by the oul' abdomen is called the abdominal cavity. In arthropods it is the bleedin' posterior tagma of the oul' body; it follows the thorax or cephalothorax.
In humans, the bleedin' abdomen stretches from the feckin' thorax at the bleedin' thoracic diaphragm to the pelvis at the oul' pelvic brim. Here's a quare one. The pelvic brim stretches from the oul' lumbosacral joint (the intervertebral disc between L5 and S1) to the bleedin' pubic symphysis and is the edge of the bleedin' pelvic inlet, bejaysus. The space above this inlet and under the thoracic diaphragm is termed the abdominal cavity. The boundary of the oul' abdominal cavity is the oul' abdominal wall in the feckin' front and the feckin' peritoneal surface at the bleedin' rear.
In vertebrates, the feckin' abdomen is an oul' large body cavity enclosed by the abdominal muscles, at front and to the sides, and by part of the oul' vertebral column at the feckin' back. Holy blatherin' Joseph, listen to this. Lower ribs can also enclose ventral and lateral walls. Be the hokey here's a quare wan. The abdominal cavity is continuous with, and above, the pelvic cavity. Jesus, Mary and holy Saint Joseph. It is attached to the bleedin' thoracic cavity by the oul' diaphragm, grand so. Structures such as the aorta, inferior vena cava and esophagus pass through the diaphragm, like. Both the abdominal and pelvic cavities are lined by a bleedin' serous membrane known as the oul' parietal peritoneum. Holy blatherin' Joseph, listen to this. This membrane is continuous with the oul' visceral peritoneum linin' the organs. The abdomen in vertebrates contains a feckin' number of organs belongin' to, for instance, the bleedin' digestive system, urinary system, and muscular system.
The abdominal cavity contains most organs of the feckin' digestive system, includin' the stomach, the feckin' small intestine, and the bleedin' colon with its attached appendix. In fairness now. Other digestive organs are known as the bleedin' accessory digestive organs and include the bleedin' liver, its attached gallbladder, and the bleedin' pancreas, and these communicate with the feckin' rest of the oul' system via various ducts. C'mere til I tell ya now. The spleen, and organs of the bleedin' urinary system includin' the oul' kidneys, and adrenal glands also lie within the oul' abdomen, along with many blood vessels includin' the oul' aorta and inferior vena cava. Jaykers! The urinary bladder, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries may be seen as either abdominal organs or as pelvic organs, bejaysus. Finally, the oul' abdomen contains an extensive membrane called the bleedin' peritoneum. Listen up now to this fierce wan. A fold of peritoneum may completely cover certain organs, whereas it may cover only one side of organs that usually lie closer to the feckin' abdominal wall. Sufferin' Jaysus listen to this. This is called the feckin' retroperitoneum, and the oul' kidneys and ureters are known as retroperitoneal organs.
Abdominal organs can be highly specialized in some animals. Be the hokey here's a quare wan. For example, the stomach of ruminants, (a suborder of mammals that includes cattle and sheep), is divided into four chambers – rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum.
There are three layers of muscles in the oul' abdominal wall. They are, from the oul' outside to the oul' inside: external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominal. The first three layers extend between the feckin' vertebral column, the feckin' lower ribs, the iliac crest and pubis of the oul' hip, to be sure. All of their fibers merge towards the oul' midline and surround the oul' rectus abdominis in a feckin' sheath before joinin' up on the feckin' opposite side at the feckin' linea alba. Strength is gained by the feckin' criss-crossin' of fibers, such that the external oblique runs downward and forward, the bleedin' internal oblique upward and forward, and the transverse abdominal horizontally forward.
The transverse abdominal muscle is flat and triangular, with its fibers runnin' horizontally. It lies between the oul' internal oblique and the oul' underlyin' transverse fascia. Holy blatherin' Joseph, listen to this. It originates from the inguinal ligament, costal cartilages 7-12, the oul' iliac crest and thoracolumbar fascia. Jesus Mother of Chrisht almighty. Inserts into the oul' conjoint tendon, xiphoid process, linea alba and the feckin' pubic crest.
The rectus abdominis muscles are long and flat, fair play. The muscle is crossed by three fibrous bands called the tendinous intersections. Here's another quare one. The rectus abdominis is enclosed in a thick sheath, formed as described above, by fibers from each of the three muscles of the feckin' lateral abdominal wall. Bejaysus. They originate at the feckin' pubis bone, run up the bleedin' abdomen on either side of the linea alba, and insert into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. In the feckin' region of the bleedin' groin, the feckin' inguinal canal, is a bleedin' passage through the layers. Bejaysus. This gap is where the testes can drop through the oul' wall and where the bleedin' fibrous cord from the uterus in the feckin' female runs. Jasus. This is also where weakness can form, and cause inguinal hernias.
The pyramidalis muscle is small and triangular. Sufferin' Jaysus. It is located in the oul' lower abdomen in front of the oul' rectus abdominis. It originates at the feckin' pubic bone and is inserted into the oul' linea alba halfway up to the feckin' navel.
Functionally, the oul' human abdomen is where most of the oul' digestive tract is placed and so most of the feckin' absorption and digestion of food occurs here. Jaysis. The alimentary tract in the oul' abdomen consists of the feckin' lower esophagus, the bleedin' stomach, the oul' duodenum, the bleedin' jejunum, ileum, the oul' cecum and the appendix, the bleedin' ascendin', transverse and descendin' colons, the sigmoid colon and the feckin' rectum, bedad. Other vital organs inside the feckin' abdomen include the oul' liver, the kidneys, the pancreas and the oul' spleen.
The abdominal wall is split into the feckin' posterior (back), lateral (sides), and anterior (front) walls.
Movement, breathin' and other functions
The abdominal muscles have different important functions. In fairness now. They assist as muscles of exhalation in the breathin' process durin' forceful exhalation. Moreover, these muscles serve as protection for the bleedin' inner organs. C'mere til I tell ya. Furthermore, together with the bleedin' back muscles they provide postural support and are important in definin' the feckin' form. C'mere til I tell yiz. When the feckin' glottis is closed and the feckin' thorax and pelvis are fixed, they are integral in the cough, urination, defecation, childbirth, vomit, and singin' functions. When the pelvis is fixed, they can initiate the oul' movement of the bleedin' trunk in a feckin' forward motion. They also prevent hyperextension. When the feckin' thorax is fixed, they can pull up the bleedin' pelvis and finally, they can bend the feckin' vertebral column sideways and assist in the oul' trunk's rotation.
The transverse abdominis muscle is the bleedin' deepest muscle, therefore, it cannot be touched from the feckin' outside, that's fierce now what? It can greatly affect the body's posture. Me head is hurtin' with all this raidin'. The internal obliques are also deep and also affect body posture. Both of them are involved in rotation and lateral flexion of the bleedin' spine and are used to bend and support the feckin' spine from the oul' front, be the hokey! The external obliques are more superficial and they are also involved in rotation and lateral flexion of the feckin' spine. Also they stabilize the oul' spine when upright. C'mere til I tell ya now. The rectus abdominis muscle is not the oul' most superficial abdominal muscle. The tendonous sheath extendin' from the external obliques cover the bleedin' rectus abdominis. The rectus abdominis is the bleedin' muscle that very fit people develop into the oul' 6-pack ab look. Although it should really be a 10 pack as there are 5 vertical sections on each side. Arra' would ye listen to this shite? The 2 bottom sections are just above the bleedin' pubic bone and usually not visible, hence, the feckin' 6 pack abs, begorrah. The rectus abdominals' function is to bend one's back forward (flexion). Jesus, Mary and holy Saint Joseph. The main work of the bleedin' abdominal muscles is to bend the bleedin' spine forward when contractin' concentrically.
Society and culture
Social and cultural perceptions of the outward appearance of the feckin' abdomen has varyin' significance around the bleedin' world. Dependin' on the bleedin' type of society, excess weight can be perceived as an indicator of wealth and prestige due to excess food, or as an oul' sign of poor health due to lack of exercise. In many cultures, bare abdomens are distinctly sexualized and perceived similarly to breast cleavage.
Bein' key elements of spinal support, and contributors to good posture, it is important to properly exercise the abdominal muscles together with the feckin' back muscles because when these are weak or overly tight they can suffer painful spasms and injuries, the hoor. When properly exercised, abdominal muscles contribute to improved posture and balance, reduce the likelihood of back pain episodes, reduce the bleedin' severity of back pain, protect against injury by respondin' efficiently to stresses, help avoid some back surgeries, and help with the healin' of back problems, or after spine surgery, to be sure. When strengthened, the abdominal muscles provide flexibility as well, be the hokey! The abdominal muscles can be worked by practicin' disciplines of general body strength such as Pilates, yoga, T'ai chi, and joggin'. Would ye swally this in a minute now?There are also specific routines which target each of these muscles.
Abdominal obesity is an oul' condition where abdominal fat or visceral fat, has built up excessively between the abdominal organs. This is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, asthma and type 2 diabetes.
Abdominal trauma is an injury to the bleedin' abdomen and can involve damage to the oul' abdominal organs. I hope yiz are all ears now. There is an associated risk of severe blood loss and infection. Injury to the feckin' lower chest can cause injuries to the bleedin' spleen and liver.
Many gastrointestinal diseases affect the abdominal organs, game ball! These include stomach disease, liver disease, pancreatic disease, gallbladder and bile duct disease; intestinal diseases include enteritis, coeliac disease, diverticulitis, and IBS.
Different medical procedures can be used to examine the bleedin' organs of the feckin' gastrointestinal tract. Sure this is it. These include endoscopy, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, enteroscopy, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and virtual colonoscopy. There are also an oul' number of medical imagin' techniques that can be used. Surface landmarks are important in the examination of the abdomen.
In the oul' mid-line a shlight furrow extends from the oul' xiphoid process above to the pubic symphysis below, representin' the bleedin' linea alba in the bleedin' abdominal wall. Whisht now. At about its midpoint sits the oul' umbilicus or navel. Be the hokey here's a quare wan. The rectus abdominis on each side of the linea alba stands out in muscular people. Whisht now. The outline of these muscles is interrupted by three or more transverse depressions indicatin' the oul' tendinous intersections. Whisht now. There is usually one about the bleedin' xiphoid process, one at the bleedin' navel, and one in between. It is the bleedin' combination of the oul' linea alba and the bleedin' tendinous intersections which form the feckin' abdominal "six-pack" sought after by many people.
The upper lateral limit of the oul' abdomen is the subcostal margin (at or near the subcostal plane) formed by the bleedin' cartilages of the feckin' false ribs (8, 9, 10) joinin' one another. The lower lateral limit is the anterior crest of the ilium and Poupart's ligament, which runs from the feckin' anterior superior spine of the ilium to the feckin' spine of the oul' pubis. Bejaysus. These lower limits are marked by visible grooves. Here's another quare one. Just above the feckin' pubic spines on either side are the bleedin' external abdominal rings, which are openings in the bleedin' muscular wall of the bleedin' abdomen through which the feckin' spermatic cord emerges in the male, and through which an inguinal hernia may rupture.
One method by which the feckin' location of the abdominal contents can be appreciated is to draw three horizontal and two vertical lines.
- The highest of the oul' former is the oul' transpyloric line of C. Soft oul' day. Addison, which is situated halfway between the bleedin' suprasternal notch and the bleedin' top of the pubic symphysis, and often cuts the oul' pyloric openin' of the bleedin' stomach an inch to the right of the oul' mid-line. Sure this is it. The hilum of each kidney is a holy little below it, while its left end approximately touches the oul' lower limit of the oul' spleen. It corresponds to the first lumbar vertebra behind.
- The second line is the feckin' subcostal line, drawn from the bleedin' lowest point of the bleedin' subcostal arch (tenth rib), grand so. It corresponds to the bleedin' upper part of the feckin' third lumbar vertebra, and it is an inch or so above the oul' umbilicus, for the craic. It indicates roughly the feckin' transverse colon, the oul' lower ends of the feckin' kidneys, and the bleedin' upper limit of the feckin' transverse (3rd) part of the bleedin' duodenum.
- The third line is called the feckin' intertubercular line, and runs across between the feckin' two rough tubercles, which can be felt on the outer lip of the bleedin' crest of the feckin' ilium about two and a half inches (64 mm) from the feckin' anterior superior spine. Jesus Mother of Chrisht almighty. This line corresponds to the bleedin' body of the feckin' fifth lumbar vertebra, and passes through or just above the feckin' ileo-caecal valve, where the small intestine joins the large intestine.
The two vertical or mid-Poupart lines are drawn from the oul' point midway between the feckin' anterior superior spine and the oul' pubic symphysis on each side, vertically upward to the costal margin.
- The right one is the feckin' most valuable, as the ileo-caecal valve is situated where it cuts the intertubercular line, the shitehawk. The orifice of the bleedin' appendix lies an inch lower, at McBurney's point, for the craic. In its upper part, the bleedin' vertical line meets the transpyloric line at the lower margin of the bleedin' ribs, usually the ninth, and here the oul' gallbladder is situated.
- The left mid-Poupart line corresponds in its upper three-quarters to the bleedin' inner edge of the bleedin' descendin' colon.
The right subcostal margin corresponds to the oul' lower limit of the feckin' liver, while the feckin' right nipple is about half an inch above its upper limit.
Quadrants and regions
The abdomen can be divided into quadrants or regions to describe the location of an organ or structure. Classically, quadrants are described as the bleedin' left upper, left lower, right upper, and right lower. Quadrants are also often used in describin' the site of an abdominal pain.
The abdomen can also be divided into nine regions. Holy blatherin' Joseph, listen to this.
|right hypochondriac/hypochondrium||epigastric/epigastrium||left hypochondriac/hypochondrium|
|right lumbar/flank/latus/lateral||umbilical||left lumbar/flank/latus/lateral|
|right inguinal/iliac||hypogastric/suprapubic||left inguinal/iliac|
These terms stem from "hypo" meanin' "below" and "epi" means "above", while "chondron" means "cartilage" (in this case, the oul' cartilage of the bleedin' rib) and "gaster" means stomach. The reversal of "left" and "right" is intentional, because the bleedin' anatomical designations reflect the patient's own right and left.)
The "right iliac fossa" (RIF) is a common site of pain and tenderness in patients who have appendicitis. The fossa is named for the bleedin' underlyin' iliac fossa of the bleedin' hip bone, and thus is somewhat imprecise. Most of the feckin' anatomical structures that will produce pain and tenderness in this region are not in fact in the oul' concavity of the oul' ileum. However, the oul' term is in common usage.
In arthropods the oul' abdomen is built up of a series of upper plates known as tergites and lower plates known as sternites, the bleedin' whole bein' held together by an oul' tough yet stretchable membrane.
The abdomen contains the bleedin' insect's digestive tract and reproductive organs, it consists of eleven segments in most orders of insects though the oul' eleventh segment is absent in the adult of most higher orders, game ball! The number of these segments does vary from species to species with the feckin' number of segments visible reduced to only seven in the bleedin' common honeybee. Would ye believe this shite?In the feckin' Collembola (Springtails) the bleedin' abdomen has only six segments.
The abdomen is sometimes highly modified. In Apocrita (bees, ants and wasps), the bleedin' first segment of the feckin' abdomen is fused to the feckin' thorax and is called the propodeum. In ants the bleedin' second segment forms the oul' narrow petiole. Holy blatherin' Joseph, listen to this. Some ants have an additional postpetiole segment, and the remainin' segments form the oul' bulbous gaster. The petiole and gaster (abdominal segments 2 and onward) are collectively called the metasoma.
Unlike other arthropods, insects possess no legs on the abdomen in adult form, though the bleedin' Protura do have rudimentary leg-like appendages on the bleedin' first three abdominal segments, and Archaeognatha possess small, articulated "styli" which are sometimes considered to be rudimentary appendages, what? Many larval insects includin' the oul' Lepidoptera and the bleedin' Symphyta (Sawflies) have fleshy appendages called prolegs on their abdominal segments (as well as their more familiar thoracic legs), which allow them to grip onto the feckin' edges of plant leaves as they walk around.
In arachnids (spiders, scorpions and relatives), the oul' term "abdomen" is used interchangeably with "opisthosoma" ("hind body"), which is the body section posterior to that bearin' the oul' legs and head (the prosoma or cephalothorax).
- Abdomen. Sufferin' Jaysus listen to this. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Jaysis. Retrieved 22 October 2007
- Abdomen. Me head is hurtin' with all this raidin'. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage Dictionary of the feckin' English Language, 4th Edition. Retrieved 22 October 2007
- Peritoneum, fair play. The Veterinary Dictionary. G'wan now and listen to this wan. Elsevier, 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2007
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- "The Abdominal Muscle Group", would ye swally that? Retrieved 2010-07-13.
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- Wyatt, Jonathon; Illingworth, RN; Graham, CA; Clancy, MJ; Robertson, CE (2006). Story? Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine. Would ye believe this shite?Oxford University Press. Would ye believe this shite?p. 346. Whisht now. ISBN 978-0-19-920607-0.
- Dorland's illustrated medical dictionary (32nd ed.), the shitehawk. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier. 2012. Arra' would ye listen to this. p. 2, would ye swally that? ISBN 978-1-4160-6257-8.
- Durward, Heather; Baston, Helen (2001). Chrisht Almighty. Examination of the oul' newborn: a feckin' practical guide. Sufferin' Jaysus. New York: Routledge. Whisht now and eist liom. p. 134, for the craic. ISBN 978-0-415-19184-5.
- Ferguson, Charles (1990). Soft oul' day. "Chapter 93: Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, and Percussion of the feckin' Abdomen", grand so. In Walker, HK; Hall, WD; JW, Hurst (eds.). Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations (3rd ed.), you know yerself. Boston: Butterworths. Here's a quare one for ye. ISBN 9780409900774. Jaykers! Retrieved 2013-11-27.
- Saladin, Kenneth (2011). Arra' would ye listen to this. Human anatomy. Arra' would ye listen to this shite? McGraw-Hill, fair play. p. 14. ISBN 9780071222075.
- "Glossary of Descriptive Terminology". Desertants.org. Sufferin' Jaysus. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
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- Collier's New Encyclopedia. Whisht now and eist liom. 1921. .