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ATTACHMNENTS:
- The rectus abdominis attaches from the crest and symphysis of the pubic bone to the xiphoid process of the sternum and the costal cartilages of ribs 5 through 7.
ACTIONS:
- The rectus abdominis flexes and laterally flexes the trunk at the spinal joints.
- It posteriorly tilts the pelvis at the lumbosacral joint.
- The rectus abdominis also compresses the abdominal contents.
NOTES:
- The rectus abdominis is encased in the rectus sheath, which is created by the fibrous midline attachments of the other three anterior abdominal wall muscles: external abdominal oblique, internal abdominal oblique, and transversus abdominis.
- The rectus abdominis has horizontal fibrous bands known as tendinous inscriptions, which divide each rectus abdominis into four boxes.
