The transversalis fascia (or transverse fascia) is the

fascia A fascia (; : fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; ) is a generic term for macroscopic membranous bodily structures. Fasciae are classified as superficial, visceral or deep, and further designated according to their anatomical location. ...

l lining of the anterolateral

abdominal wall In anatomy, the abdominal wall represents the boundaries of the abdominal cavity. The abdominal wall is split into the anterolateral and posterior walls. There is a common set of layers covering and forming all the walls: the deepest being the vi ...

situated between the inner surface of the

transverse abdominal muscle The transverse abdominal muscle (TVA), also known as the transverse abdominis, transversalis muscle and transversus abdominis muscle, is a muscle layer of the anterior and lateral (front and side) abdominal wall, deep to (layered below) the inter ...

, and the preperitoneal fascia. It is directly continuous with the

iliac fascia The iliac fascia (or Abernethy's fascia) is the fascia overlying the iliacus muscle. Superiorly and laterally, the iliac fascia is attached to the inner aspect of the iliac crest; inferiorly and laterally, it extends into the thigh to unite with ...

, the

internal spermatic fascia The internal spermatic fascia (infundibuliform fascia or Le deuxième fascia de Webster) is a thin layer, which loosely invests the spermatic cord. Structure The internal spermatic fascia is derived from the transversalis fascia. It is acquir ...

, and

pelvic fascia The pelvic fasciae are the fascia of the pelvis and can be divided into: * (a) the fascial sheaths of ** the obturator internus muscles ( fascia of the obturator internus) ** the piriformis muscles ( fascia of the piriformis) ** the pelvic floor ...

Structure

In the inguinal region, the transversalis fascia is thick and dense; here, it is joined by fibers of the aponeurosis of the

. It becomes thin towards to the diaphragm, blending with the fascia covering the inferior surface of the diaphragm. Posteriorly, it is lost in Below, it has the following attachments: posteriorly, to the whole length of the

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the posterio ...

, between the attachments of the transverse abdominal and

Iliacus The iliacus is a flat, triangular muscle which fills the iliac fossa. It forms the lateral portion of iliopsoas, providing flexion of the thigh and lower limb at the acetabulofemoral joint. Structure The iliacus arises from the iliac fossa on t ...

; between the

anterior superior iliac spine The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) is a bony projection of the iliac bone, and an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis. It provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, ...

and the femoral vessels it is connected to the posterior margin of the

inguinal ligament The inguinal ligament (), also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the inguinal canal through which an indirect inguinal hernia may ...

, and is there continuous with the

. Medial to the femoral vessels it is thin and attached to the pubis and pectineal line, behind the inguinal falx, with which it is united; it descends in front of the femoral vessels to form the anterior wall of the

femoral sheath The femoral sheath (also called the crural sheath) is a funnel-shaped downward extension of abdominal fascia within which the femoral artery and femoral vein pass between the abdomen and the thigh. The femoral sheath is subdivided by two vertica ...

. Beneath the inguinal ligament it is strengthened by a band of fibrous tissue, which is only loosely connected to the ligament, and is specialized as the

iliopubic tract The iliopubic tract is a thickened band of fibers curving over the external iliac vessels, at the spot where they become femoral, on the abdominal side of the inguinal ligaments and loosely connected with it. It is apparently a thickening of the ...

Opening

The

spermatic cord The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (''ductus deferens'') and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an exten ...

in the male and the round ligament of the uterus in the female pass through the transversalis fascia at the

deep inguinal ring The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall on each side of the body (one on each side of the midline), which in males, convey the spermatic cords and in females, the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are large ...

, the entrance to the

inguinal canal The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall on each side of the body (one on each side of the midline), which in males, convey the spermatic cords and in females, the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are lar ...

. This opening is not visible externally. In the male, the transverse fascia extends downwards as the

Additional images

File:Rectus abdominis muscle 2.jpg, Transversalis fascia File:Gray399.svg, Diagram of sheath of rectus. File:Gray400.png, Diagram of a transverse section through the anterior abdominal wall, below the linea semicircularis. File:Gray547.png, Gray547.png

References

External links

* - "Layers of the anterior wall." * - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The

Inguinal canal The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall on each side of the body (one on each side of the midline), which in males, convey the spermatic cords and in females, the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are lar ...

" * (look for #2) * {{Authority control Abdomen Fascia