Anterior abdominal wall

Looks like

The front wall of the belly between the ribs and the pelvis: skin, fat, three flat side muscles and the two rectus muscles in front.

What it does

Holds and protects the organs, moves the trunk and raises belly pressure for coughing, lifting and giving birth.

Keeping it well

Weak spots allow hernias at the navel, groin or old scars; a painful, firm, stuck lump is an emergency.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Hernia (inguinal, hiatal, umbilical)
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Peritonitis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus