The transversalis fascia (or transverse fascia) is a thin
aponeurotic membrane of the
abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...
. It lies between the inner surface of the
transverse abdominal muscle and the
parietal peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesothel ...
.
It forms part of the general layer of
fascia
A fascia (; plural fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; from Latin: "band") is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches to, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs ...
lining the abdominal
parietes. It is directly continuous with the
iliac fascia, the
internal spermatic fascia, and
pelvic fasciae.
Structure
In the
inguinal region, the transversalis fascia is thick and dense. It is joined by fibers from the aponeurosis of the
transverse abdominal muscle. It becomes thin as it ascends to the
diaphragm
Diaphragm may refer to:
Anatomy
* Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen
* Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure
* Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure
Other
* Diap ...
and blends with the fascia covering the under surface of this muscle. It is directly continuous with the
iliac fascia, the
internal spermatic fascia, and
pelvic fasciae.
Borders
Behind, it is lost in the fat which covers the posterior surfaces of the
kidneys
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; bloo ...
.
Below, it has the following attachments: posteriorly, to the whole length of the
iliac crest, between the attachments of the transverse abdominal and
Iliacus; between the
anterior superior iliac spine
The anterior superior iliac spine ( abbreviated: 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 i ...
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
iliac fascia.
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.
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.
Opening
The
spermatic cord in the male and the
round ligament of the uterus in the female pass through the transversalis fascia at the
deep inguinal ring, the entrance to the
inguinal canal. This opening is not visible externally. In the male, the transverse fascia extends downwards as the
internal spermatic fascia.
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"
* (look for #2)
*
{{Authority control
Abdomen
Fascia