We train the muscles of the legs and abdomen. The following exercises are good for the muscles of the front of the thighs: 1. Starting position – rope in hands, stand with both feet in the middle. Next, sit down and stand up again, continuing to pull the ends of the rope up. Do 4 sets of 20

The rectus abdominis (m. rectus abdominis) (Fig. 90, 109, 110) tilts the torso anteriorly. It is part of the abdominal press and provides intra-abdominal pressure, due to which the internal organs are held in a certain position. In addition, she takes part in the acts of urination, defecation and childbirth. This long, flat muscle is located in the anterior abdominal wall on the sides of the white line (linea alba), which runs from the xiphoid process of the sternum to the pubic fusion. The point of origin of the rectus abdominis muscle is located on the xiphoid process of the sternum and the cartilages of the V–VII ribs, and the attachment point is on the pubic bone between the pubic tubercle and the pubic symphysis (symphysis). The muscle bundles of the rectus abdominis muscle are interrupted by three to four transversely located tendon bridges, two of which are located above the navel, the third at the level of the navel, and the fourth (poorly developed) below.

Rice. 109. Muscles of the anterior wall of the abdomen and pelvis: 1 - rectus abdominis muscle;2 - fascia iliaca;3 - iliopsoas muscle;4 - interfoveal ligament;5 - external iliac artery;6 - external iliac vein;7 - internal locking muscle;8 - muscle that lifts the ani;9 - external locking muscle

The pyramidal muscle of the abdomen (m. pyramidalis) (Fig. 90, 110) stretches the linea alba. The muscle has a triangular shape, begins on the pubic bone, anterior to the insertion of the rectus abdominis muscle, and is attached at various levels of the lower part of the linea alba.

Muscles of the lateral abdominal wall

The muscles of the lateral abdominal wall are the broad abdominal muscles and are arranged in three layers.

The external oblique muscle of the abdomen (m. obliquus externus abdominis) (Fig. 90, 101, 102, 104, 106, 110, 133) forms the superficial layer of the lateral wall of the abdomen. With a bilateral contraction (with a fixed position of the pelvis), the external oblique muscle pulls the chest and tilts the torso forward, bending the spinal column; with a unilateral contraction, it turns the torso in the opposite direction. The muscle is wide and flat, part of the abdominal press. The origin point is on the outer surface of the eight lower ribs. The muscle bundles are directed obliquely downwards and anteriorly (to the anterior abdominal wall), passing into the aponeurosis (Fig. 104, 106). The attachment point is located on the upper part of the aponeurosis. The bundles of the aponeurosis, intertwining with the fibers of the aponeurosis of the muscles of the opposite side, form the linea alba. In this case, the lower bundles of the external oblique muscle are attached to the iliac crest, and the middle bundles of the aponeurosis form the inguinal ligament (lig. inguinale).

The internal oblique muscle of the abdomen (m. obliquus internus abdominis) (Fig. 101, 105, 110) is located under the external oblique muscle in the anterolateral abdominal wall, that is, it forms the second layer of muscles of the lateral abdominal wall. With unilateral contraction, the internal oblique muscle turns the body in its direction. The muscle is wide and flat and is the abdominal muscle. It starts from the iliac crest, inguinal ligament and thoracolumbar fascia. The muscle bundles diverge in a fan-shaped manner, moving along the oblique from below and from front to top and back. The posterior bundles are directed almost vertically and are attached to the outer surface of the three or four lower ribs. The middle bundles, not reaching the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, pass into the aponeurosis, which forms the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. The lower bundles are directed horizontally, descend along the spermatic cord (funiculus spermaticus) and are part of the muscle that lifts the testicle (m. cremaster) (Fig. 110).

The transverse abdominal muscle (m. transversus abdominis) (Fig. 103, 110) forms the deepest layer of muscles of the lateral abdominal wall. The muscle is part of the abdominal press, flattens the abdominal wall and brings together the lower sections of the chest wall. At the top, the muscle begins from the inner surface of the cartilages of the six lower ribs, and at the bottom - from the iliac crest, inguinal ligament and thoracolumbar fascia. The muscle bundles are directed horizontally forward, without reaching the outer edge of the transverse muscle, and pass into the aponeurosis, which takes part in the formation of the white line of the abdomen. The bundles of the lower section of the transverse muscle, connecting with the lower bundles of the internal oblique muscle, participate in the formation of the muscle that lifts the testicle.

The muscle mass of the anterior abdominal wall consists of the rectus, oblique and transverse abdominal muscles (Fig. 1.3,1.4).

In the anterior section there are the rectus abdominis muscles, in the anterolateral section there are the external and internal oblique and transverse muscles.

Rectus abdominis muscle m. rectus abdominis, starts from the outer surface of the cartilages of the V-VII ribs and the xiphoid process, is attached by a powerful tendon to the pubic bone.

Muscle fibers m. rectus abdominis are interrupted by transversely located connective tissue bridges. Two of them are located above the navel, one is at the level and one is below the navel.

Tendon bridges make it difficult to isolate the anterior surface of the rectus muscle during surgery.

Blood supply and innervation are carried out by the branches of the six lower

Rice. 1.5. General view of the pyramidal (1) and rectus abdominis muscles (2). The neurovascular bundle is visible, approaching the middle third of the pyramidal muscle (3)

intercostal arteries and nerves, as well as the superior and inferior epigastric arteries, ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves, approaching mainly from the lateral-posterior surface.

That is why paramedian incisions made along the medial edge of the rectus muscle with the opening of the walls of its vagina do not entail significant damage to blood vessels and nerves.

In this regard, it is recommended to make pararectal incisions along the outer edge of the muscle no more than 8-10 cm (Kolesov V.I. 1972; Rusanov A.A. 1979).

pyramidalis muscle, t. pura-midalis, located anterior to m. hes-tus abdominis (Fig. 1.5). It, according to our data, has a triangular shape, 3-8 mm thick, starts from the pubic bone and ends at various levels of the lower sections of the white line of the abdomen.

In 82% of observations m. pyramidalis lies in a thin fascial sheath surrounded by a layer of loose fiber that is easily separated from the rectus abdominis muscle and moves outward to cover the high inguinal space

In 18% of cases, the muscle can be mobilized for plastic purposes only in an acute way, since it is determined in the form of a muscular elevation on the m.rectus abdominis. Fibers m. pura-midalis are separated by layers of its connective tissue and several thicknesses of rectus muscle fibers.

The length of the pyramidal muscle is 6.4-8.5 cm.

The width at the base is 1.2-3.2 cm. The average area is 7 square centimeters.

With an average area of ​​the inguinal space of 10 square centimeters, the mobilized pyramidalis muscle can sufficiently cover it, eliminating the weak point.

In this case, the blood supply and innervation are not disturbed, since the lower two-thirds of the pyramidal muscle moved to the inguinal space are well provided by preserved neurovascular bundles approaching its upper third.

Anterior wall of the rectus sheath formed in the upper two-thirds by the aponeurosis of the external and superficial layer of the internal oblique muscles, in the lower third by the aponeuroses of all three muscles (external oblique, internal oblique and transverse).

Posterior wall of the vagina m. The rectus abdominis in the upper two-thirds is formed by the layers of the aponeurosis of the internal oblique (deep layer) and the transverse muscles.

In the lower third, the rectus muscle is adjacent to the transverse fascia and peritoneum.

Break line of the posterior vaginal wall m. rectus abdominis, passing approximately 4-5 cm below the navel, is called the semicircular (Douglasi) line, linea arcuata.

It is a good landmark and the most common site for hernia formation at the outer edges of the rectus abdominis muscles.

Linea alba is determined in the form of a narrow tendon strip from the xiphoid process to the symphysis with a maximum width (2.5-3 cm) at the navel. It is formed by bundles of aponeuroses of the oblique and transverse muscles intersecting along the midline.

The linea alba contains slit-like openings through which blood vessels and nerves pass.

Preperitoneal fatty tissue can also emerge here, forming preperitoneal lipomas. The holes in such cases enlarge and can be the site of formation of hernias of the white line of the abdomen.

The incisions here must be made taking into account the anatomical layers.

After dissection of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, superficial and intrinsic fascia, the tendinous layer of the linea alba is easily exposed, under which the transverse fascia is located.

The layer of loose preperitoneal tissue above the navel is poorly expressed, therefore, when suturing in this area, the linea alba is usually captured along with the peritoneum.

Below the navel there is a sufficient layer of preperitoneal tissue, which makes it possible to apply sutures separately to the peritoneum and to the linea alba without much tension.

The ligatures on the linea alba above the navel experience significant tension, as the edges of the incision diverge to the sides under the influence of the traction of the oblique and transverse muscles.

In the area of ​​the umbilical ring There are the following layers: skin, scar connective tissue, transverse fascia and peritoneum. There is no subcutaneous fatty tissue here.

In the anterolateral abdomen, the muscle layer consists of the external oblique, internal oblique and transverse muscles (see Fig. 1.3, 1.4).

External oblique muscle fibers directed from top to bottom, back to front and below the line connecting the anterior superior iliac spine with the navel, as well as at a distance of 1 - 6.5 cm from the outer edge of the chin. rectus abdominis pass into the wide aponeurosis.

However, the line of transition of muscle fibers into aponeurotic ones above the navel usually corresponds to the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, intersecting with it at a distance of 3-17 cm (on average 8 cm) below the costal arch (Orokhovsky V.I., Dudnichenko A.S. 1992 ).

There are three types of aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle of the abdomen: strong

(occurs in 10.8-30% of cases), moderate (occurs in 19-57.5% of patients) and weak (occurs in 15-61.6% of cases) (Pokidko I.A. 1970; Namashko M. V. 1998).

The lower edge of the aponeurosis m. The obliquus abdominis externus folds in and forms the inguinal (Pupart's) ligament. The fascia transversalis and the fascia lata of the thigh also participate in its formation.

The inguinal ligament varies in its density, length and width. Its length varies from 10 to 16 cm depending on the shape and height of the pelvis.

A.A. Lugovoi (1978) distinguishes two types of Poupart's ligaments. The first type is characterized by thick, and the second - thin elastic fibers with clear signs of fiber disintegration.

The deep part of the ligament forms the subiliopubic cord.

At the pubic tubercle, the fibers of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle split and form two legs, crus mediale et laterale, of the superficial inguinal ring. It is limited below and inwardly by the sometimes observed third, posterior, leg - it is made up of a wrapped ligament, ligamentum reflexum (Collesi).

The first two legs lie superficially, the third - deeper.

In the region of the apex of the gap formed by the splitting of the aponeurosis, the legs in front are crossed transversely and arcuately running fibers - fibrae intercrurales - rounding the gap into a ring.

The ilioinguinal nerve also passes here (see Fig. 1.3).

Internal oblique muscle separated from the outer one by the fascial intermuscular plate.

Lower part m. obliquus abdominis internus usually begins from the lateral half or outer two-thirds of the inguinal ligament.

The muscle fibers are directed downward and inward, passing into the aponeurosis at a distance of 1-5 cm from the outer edge of the rectus muscle (see Fig. 1.4). Here the aponeurosis is divided into two layers

The superficial leaf is part of the anterior wall of the vagina directly from the muscle, the deep one is part of the posterior wall.

Below the semicircular line (linea arcuata), the deep leaf joins the superficial one and participates in the formation of the anterior vaginal wall m. rectus abdominis.

From the internal oblique and the underlying transverse muscles, bundles emerge that form the muscle that lifts the testicle (m. cremaster), which passes onto the spermatic cord in the form of fascia crema sterica.

Transverse abdominis muscle with its lower bundles, running transversely, it starts from the outer third of the inguinal ligament. At a distance of 0.5-5 cm from the outer edge of the rectus muscle, it passes into its aponeurosis, forming the semilunar line, linea semilunaris (spi-helian line).

When the non-muscular areas of the oblique and transverse abdominal muscles are combined here, a weak point is created, an anatomical prerequisite for hernia formation.

Blood supply and innervation of the muscles of the anterolateral region of the abdominal wall is carried out by those lying on the m. transversus abdominis by six lower intercostal and four lumbar arteries, accompanied by the nerves of the same name, n. iliohypogastricus and n. ilio-inguinalis (see Fig. 1.4).

Transversalis fascia(fascia transversalis), which is a thin, strong, connective tissue plate that thickens at the inguinal ligament (iliopubic cord) and at the outer edge of the m. rectus abdominis, adjacent

goes to the posterior surface of the transverse muscle.

Here it connects with the aponeurotic stretch of the internal oblique and transverse muscles, forming the inguinal falx, falx inguinalis, which is also called the ligament of Henle (Fig. 1.7).

Fascia transversalis is part of the intra-abdominal fascia and below it firmly fuses with the horizontal branch of the pubic bone, covering the pectineal (superior pubic) ligament of Cooper in front.

The iliopubic cord formed here by the transverse fascia in the form of a strip 0.8-1 cm wide, lying parallel to and behind the inguinal ligament, is found, according to Yu.A. Yartseva (1964), in 82% of cases.

A.M. Gilroy et al. (1992) noted this fact in only 42% of observations. This anatomical formation is described in his monographs by N.I. Kukudzhanov (1969), R. Bittner (1995), R. Condon (1995).

However, a number of anatomists and surgeons (Anson B.J., McVay S.V. 1938; Hollin-shead W.N. 1956; BellisJ. 1971; Dunn D.C., Menzies D. 1996) deny the existence of the sub-iliopubic cord.

Deeper than the transverse fascia is preperitoneal tissue. Here pass a. epigastrica inferior and a. cir-cumflexa ilium profunda, accompanied by veins of the same name, 4 connective tissue cords are directed to the umbilical ring. The peritoneum, covering them, forms a ligament and folds: ligamentum teres hepatis, plicae umbilicales mediana, media et lateralis.

The round ligament of the liver runs from the navel to the lower edge of the ligamentum falciformis hepatis and contains the umbilical vein, obliterated only in the thickness of the anterior abdominal wall. After awakening, the umbilical vein is used for blood transfusions, drug administration

nal solutions and angiographic studies of the liver.

Down from the navel along the midline is the plica umbilicalis mediana, which contains an overgrown urinary duct, urachus.

Outside of it is the plica umbilicalis media, in which lies the overgrown umbilical artery.

More lateral is the external umbilical fold, which encloses the inferior epigastric artery (Fig. 1.6).

The folds limit the pits that are important in practical terms above the inguinal ligament: fossae inguinales medialis, lateralis et supravesicalis. The pits are places where the viscera protrude during the formation of hernias.

The external inguinal fossa is located outward from the plica umbilicalis lateralis and corresponds to the internal opening of the inguinal canal.

The internal inguinal fossa is located between the plica umbilicalis lateralis and plica umbilicalis media. This fossa corresponds to the projection of the external opening of the inguinal canal.

Internally from the plica umbilicalis media there is a supravesical fossa, fossa supravesicalis.

Inguinal triangle at the top it is limited by a horizontal line drawn from the border between the outer and middle third of the inguinal ligament to the rectus abdominis muscle, medially - by the outer edge of m. rectus abdominis and below - ligamentum inguinalis. The inguinal canal and inguinal space are located in the inguinal triangle.

Inguinal canal called the gap between the broad abdominal muscles, through which the spermatic cord passes in men, and the round uterine ligament in women. The canal is located above the inner half of the inguinal ligament and has an oblique direction: from top to bottom, from outside to inside and from back to front.

Rice. 1.6. Posterior surface of the lower anterior abdominal wall

1 - median umbilical fold; 2 - middle umbilical fold; 3 - lateral umbilical fold with lower epigastric vessels; 4 - supra-vesical inguinal fossa; 5 - internal inguinal fossa; 6 - lateral inguinal fossa (internal opening of the inguinal canal)

In the inguinal canal there are four walls and two openings (see Fig. 1.3).

The anterior wall of the canal is considered to be the aponeurosis of the external oblique abdominal muscle, the upper wall is the lower edges of the internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles. The lower wall is formed by the inguinal ligament, the posterior wall by the transverse fascia.

Inguinal space located between the upper and lower walls of the inguinal canal and limited on the medial side by the outer edge of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle.

The shape and size of the inguinal space vary greatly.

Its height varies from 2.5 to 5 cm, length - from 4 to 9.5 cm. The shape of the inguinal space is oval-slit-like (60%) or triangular (40%)

(Kukudzhanov N.I. 1969; Orokhovsky V.I. et al. 1989). The high triangular inguinal spaces (muscleless area) have a significant area and are an anatomical prerequisite for hernia formation.

External opening of the inguinal canal, as described above, is located above the Poupart ligament in the aponeurosis of the external oblique abdominal muscle.

Internal or deep hole, anulus inguinalis profundus, is a depression in the transverse fascia corresponding to the external inguinal fossa. Fascia transversalis here forms a funnel-shaped protrusion like the finger of a glove, which in men includes elements of the spermatic cord: ductus deferens, blood and lymphatic vessels, non-

Rice. 1.7. Strengthening the groin area with tendon fibers of the transverse muscle and the interfossa ligament of Hesselbach

1 - Hesselbach ligament; 2 - spermatic cord; 3 - tendon and muscle parts of the transverse muscle; 4 - inguinal falx (ligament of Henle); 5 - inguinal ligament; 6 - gibbernate ligament; 7 - Cooper's pectineal ligament; 8 - wide attachment of the rectus abdominis muscle; 9 - femoral vessels; 10 - lower epigastric vessels

ditches of the duct and testicle, the remainder of the vaginal process of the peritoneum. Thus, from the transverse fascia, the internal spermatic membrane of the cord and testicle, fascia spermatica interna, is obtained. Outside, along the spermatic cord, within the inguinal canal, nerves pass: above - n. ilioinguinalis, below - ramus genitalis n. genitofemoralis. The same formations are present in women, only instead of the spermatic cord, a round ligament of the uterus is found.

The internal inguinal ring lies 1-1.5 cm above the middle of the Poupart ligament, has a round or ellipsoidal shape with an area of ​​13-15 square meters. mm for women - 15-50 sq. mm in men (M. M. Gorelik 1963; Yu. A. Yartsev 1964). Quite often, on the inner and lower sides it is bordered by tendon fibers along the

pepperus muscle, merging with the transverse fascia (interfoveal ligament of Hesselbach) (Fig. 1.7).

straight: right and left - begin in narrow, long fascicles from the pubic crests and pubic symphysis, attached to the outer surface of the cartilages of the Y-YII ribs with wide, ribbon-like stripes; along their course, the muscle bundles are interrupted by 3-4 tendon, transverse bridges, which grow together with the sheath of the rectus muscles;

rectus sheath formed from aponeurosesoblique And transverse abdominal muscles so that its anterior and posterior walls have a different structure: above the interspinous line, both walls of the vagina consist of one leaf of the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle (anterior wall), one leaf of the aponeurosis of the transverse muscle (posterior wall), and half goes into each wall split aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle; below the interspinous line, the anterior wall consists of three aponeuroses, and the posterior one is absent, and the rectus muscle is covered by the intra-abdominal fascia (its transverse part), which is clearly visible due to the arcuate line running along the lower edge of the posterior wall of the rectus muscle sheath;

white line, or rather, its aponeurosis, is formed when intersecting fibrous fibers of the aponeuroses of the oblique and transverse abdominal muscles grow together along the anterior midline of the abdomen after they have formed the sheath of the rectus muscle.

Between the navel and the xiphoid process the aponeurosis of the white line is wide, thin, often with small gaps between the fibers; between the navel and symphysis - it is narrow and thick; its similar structure is explained by the position of the rectus muscles, converging with narrow bellies to the pubis and diverging in wide ribbons to the costal cartilages.

With a fixed spine and pelvis, the rectus muscles lower the chest, bend the torso, and increase intra-abdominal pressure; with a fixed chest, the pelvis is raised; They are supplied with blood epigastric arteries: upper and lower, intercostal arteries, starting from the fifth and up to the 11th inclusive; innervated YI-XII intercostal nerves and iliohypogastric nerves from the lumbar plexus.

Pyramid the muscles begin from the pubic ridges and end in the aponeurosis of the white line below the navel; the muscles are short, lie in front of the rectus muscles - they stretch the aponeurosis of the linea alba.

Muscles of the lateral abdominal walls

External oblique muscle begins in a ledge-like manner from the outer surfaces of the lower 8 ribs interspersed with the ledges of the serratus anterior muscle (from the 5 lower ribs), attaches to the outer lip of the iliac crest and the pubic tubercle - the lower edge of the muscular aponeurosis is tucked inward and forms inguinal ligament, stretched between the anterior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle, where the aponeurosis diverges into the medial and lateral legs, limiting the external inguinal ring.

The anterior part of the muscular aponeurosis is involved in the formation of the rectus sheath and the white line of the abdomen.

With a strengthened pelvis, the external oblique muscles lower the ribs and flex the spine with bilateral contraction, contributing to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure; with unilateral rotation of the torso; with a fixed chest, the pelvis is raised.

Blood supply arteries: posterior intercostal, lateral thoracic, superficial surrounding ilium; innervated by the intercostal, iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal nerves.

Internal oblique muscle starts from the inguinal ligament (lateral two-thirds), the intermediate line of the iliac crest, the thoracolumbar fascia, passes from bottom to top and attaches to the cartilages of the last ribs. Anteriorly, the muscle passes into a wide aponeurosis, forming the rectus sheath and linea alba; below directs bundles of muscle fibers for the spermatic cord and cremasteric muscle of the testicle.

The muscle flexes the spine with bilateral action, rotates the torso with unilateral contraction, lowers the ribs and raises the pelvis.

Blood supply arteries: posterior intercostal, lumbar, epigastric, musculodiaphragmatic; innervated by the lower (6-12) intercostal, subcostal, iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.

Transversus muscle starts from the inner surface of the 6 lower ribs between the teeth of the diaphragm, attaches to the inner lip of the iliac crest (anterior half), inguinal ligament (lateral third) and thoracolumbar fascia. Anteriorly, it passes into a wide aponeurosis, forming the linea semilunaris near and along the lateral edge of the rectus muscle and further into the sheath of this muscle and the linea alba.

The muscle increases intra-abdominal pressure, reducing the size of the abdominal cavity; moves the ribs anteriorly; innervated And is supplied with blood same as internal oblique.

All three lateral muscles lie on top of each other: on top - the external oblique, below it - the internal oblique, below - the transverse, forming a powerful muscle layer, surrounded and separated by the proper and transverse fascia of the abdomen.

1. Rectus abdominis muscle, m. rectus abdominis, steam room, flat, refers to the long abdominal muscles; lies in the anterior abdominal wall on the sides of the white line of the abdomen, linea alba, which stretches along the midline from the processus xiphoideus to the pubic fusion. The rectus abdominis muscle begins from the cartilages of the V-VII ribs and from the processus xiphoideus; moving downwards, it narrows and attaches to the pubic bone in the space between the symphysis and tuberculum pubicum. The muscle bundles of the rectus abdominis muscle are interrupted by 3-4 transverse tendon bridges, intersecliones tendineae. Two of them lie above the navel, one at the level of the navel, and the poorly developed fourth bar is sometimes below the level of the navel.
2. Pyramidalis muscle, m. pyramidalis, steam room, has a triangular shape, its dimensions vary. Starts from the pubic bone, anterior to the insertion of the rectus abdominis muscle; its bundles, converging, rise upward and end at various levels of the lower sections of the linea alba.

Both muscles, rectus and pyramidal, are enclosed in the vagina of the rectus abdominis muscle, vagina m. recti abdominis, which is formed by the aponeuroses of the broad abdominal muscles. Action: they are part of the abdominal press, tilt the torso anteriorly; The pyramidal muscles also stretch the linea alba. Innervation: nn. intereostales, n. lumbalis (Th,-Тц; L,). Blood supply: rectus abdominis muscle - aa. epigastricae superior et inferior, pyramidal muscle - aa. cremasterica, epigastrica inferior.

The wide and long muscles of the abdominal wall are the muscles of the trunk and determine the following movements: lowering the ribs, thus participating in the act of breathing; change the position of the spinal column; contraction of all muscles (except the transverse one) pulls the chest down - the spinal column tilts anteriorly; with unilateral contraction, lateral flexion of the spinal column occurs. With unilateral contraction of the external oblique muscle, the spinal column rotates in the direction opposite to the contracted muscle, and with contraction of the internal oblique muscle, the spinal column rotates in the direction corresponding to it.

The muscles of the abdominal wall and the diaphragm, with their tone, maintain intra-abdominal pressure at a certain height, which is important in maintaining the abdominal organs in a certain position. With relaxation of the muscle tone of the abdominal wall (atony), a decrease in intra-abdominal pressure is observed and, as a consequence, a downward displacement of organs (ptosis) under the influence of their own gravity with subsequent disruption of their function. When the muscles of the abdominal wall contract, the capacity of the abdominal cavity decreases, the organs are subjected to compression, which helps to empty them (defecation, urination, childbirth). On this basis, the muscles of the abdominal wall are called the abdominal press. prelum abdominale.