Anterior abdominal wall
CHAPTER
61
The anterior abdominal wall consiues hexagonal ate defined supe
tony bythe conta margins and ipod proces Tater by he mi
ieis continuous with the posterior abdominal wall and paravertebral
tho fom the umbilas and the lngunal cata. which connects the
Shlominal cavity to the scrotum fn men ort the labia malora in
‘women, The ametior abdominal wall maintains the ahape of the
‘dysfunction fs equally notable because hernia repair the single most
The inegument ofthe anterior abdominal wal compdie sin, soft
Steuer, and ymphatc and vascular aructtes, a well a seinen
The skin non specialized and variably hist, depending om sex and
sce Al poxpberal inva have some extension ofthe pic hit
abdominal wall skin though this common
{o the umbiasin a wiangular patter. The subeutaneous ft ofthe
2tebmiaal wal highly warble in thichnes depending in part on
SOFT TISSUE
‘Superficial fascia
The “aerial fc’ of the aomina wal Hes between the dermis
an de mules, and econvetioaliy ied into super fy
lier (Campers fai) and + deep membranous aye (Sepa sc.
In eli there are thc layers ith are layer of adipowe ete
deep 10 the membranous ayer (Lanertio eal 201) These dice
layer ae paral wel dened inthe hid. Lying within the wiper
Adal asl are bloo ves yma. eves ain the Teglon
‘Superficial adipose layer
by thar sept Connalng te dems wh te eset ex
{nd medal ib otis er naa ne male tise
ds and consis very ie Span lng Inthe on abo Lon
Sct the sprapi none he some into aia
Membranous layer
The membranous layer 1 a vadably developed eal composed of
‘ver the anterior abdominal wall, coming thinner fn the upper
STabomen (tance el 201), Measured hisologialy is between
{and 1 mm thick bt appear thicker on compe’ tomography
(i ean (acer ec a BO, Chop 2011 Is lonely cow
eved to the undetying external chligue sponeusals and ecus
‘heath by cblique fbvous septa Superior i continuous wth the
auerent tthe linea alba and pubie symphysis nfrony, it fases
ivi the acces, excends superical ote igulnal ligament and
thigh. Inthe male, t extends on tothe dorsum of the penis forming
‘dl fala ofthe perineum (Cole fac) Inthe feral continues
the loose areolar eat Benen the membranous ayer of superfci
farcaover the nglnal canal and the etemal oblique aponeuton Thi
‘Space fe sometimes called the ape inguinal pouch
Deep adipose layer
The hcnew ofthe deep adipose layers more vaiabl han the pe
thick inthe morbidly bee Is adipootes show diferent meabolic
Ssves to those inthe noperia apo layer (Chopra tm 201.
Lipomuction preteen tetmaves thi ayer Tat with lave pes
‘ation ofthe sper adipose layer in onde to avok kin Siping
Sh otber skin contour neplries (akan aed Baron 1387)
Transversalis fas
The anmerals faci a hin ayer of connective tue ing between
the deep surface of tanserisabdomini and the exaperstonel ft
Its pat ofthe general ayer of tinfrciabetween the peiioncum and
the talominal wal osteo, st ses eh the anteoe ner ofthe
thoracolumbar facia {p.1083) and ante forms continoas
hee Superior i Ur wih dhe aca coveting the inferior suace
‘ofthe dtphragm, Infor scontinios with the tac an pelvic
patel facia: and fs atached wo the lc crx betwen the ofan
‘he inguinal iment hensen the aneror perio i spine athe
femoral sheath Medial ote femoral sheath in and fase co the
pubis behind tne conjoint endon, An inferior extension of the tran
‘als asc fons the anor pat ofthe femoral sheath. The fea
the deep crural arch), which runs pall tothe inguinal ig
{Teoh etal 1999) H Consist of warsvese fibres that fn ou laterally
towards the anteor superior fae spine 1 bled with he psoas
facia aa an meal bhi the cosolnvendon Yo de pubic owe
and laproacopic inguinal hernia tepat. A further thickening ofthe
Igual ligament the medial margin ofthe deep inguinal ng
tay contain tnsce Eres,
‘ove the cts that pas hough he deep inna ing (the est
Ives ands (ducts deferens he mole ae round ligament
‘ofthe enn in the female)
Extraperitoneal connective tissue
The eraertonesl conn
the fae Hing the bd
ti tae ping between the peritoneum and
inal and peli cae contains vara
Sout of fa fe fat epeclly abundant om the pnteroe wal of
the abdomen around the Sidney (Paiculaty in obese men) and
teanty above the ne cet and tn ch ofthe peli
10691070
ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL WALL
Septet a
‘ete ay
Leora er
Fig. 61.41 The bod sippy of he attr soil val
VASCULAR SUPPLY AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
Undetanding the blood sippy of he asominal wal cal when
oeutaneous faps and reconstucing the
‘Tsoi wall sig veral eran feat (eg.
‘Superior epigastric artery and veins
The superior epgastic artery ea terminal branch ofthe internal tho-
tack ater tary a he ee of est conta extagen dencends
between the cox and sipold slips of Ue dapagm, accompanied
by two or more vas thet dein o the ional orci vate (re
Fig: Fig. 6L.2)- The vessels pass amerir to dhe lower ites of
teansersusthotacs and dhe upper fives of tansversiy abomiis|
before entering the ret sheath, where they rin infriotyBeind
‘cts abominis They aasomose wh the lltior eigie aei,
branching patems (zen ct 2008),
Branches supply secu hominis and perforate the anerolamina
‘ofthe ets sheath to supply the abdominal skin. branch given off
in the upper seus sheath pases anterior to the tghold procen othe
eri and snastomone wth comeing onal Brae
This vessel may verge to Bleeding uring Suypcal incisions that
‘tend up to and slongide te xiphod proces, The nuperorepgate
urs
ant tytn
anery ao gives small branche othe anor par ofthe diaphragm.
fnasomnne With branche from the hepatic anery
Inferior epigastric artery and veins
The infor epigastric anery (often refered toa the deep inferior
pian arery in clinical prac in order to dso om the
‘perc (iferioeepigasteaey) ongnates om te mei apt
1 ag ae jus protimalto the inguinal games (ee
1g. 61.3), accompanying im, sly two, une
fevein that sine int the externa ge en (Rave
3003) curves forwards Inthe aneiorexaperioneal tue and
‘scencis bliquly along he medial margin ofthe deep inguinal ing,
ives poueiort the spemmatic cord separned ftom iy the wane
by paming anterior tothe arcste hie In thi par of ie couse, ft
‘Wuible through the pascal petioneum of heater abdorainal wall
St forms the aera umbiealfl, Disruption of the ary tthe
iy surgealincsons (eg, lmseron of laparoscopic ports or abdominal
Sain uy welt ins itermaomn tha tan expand ocoaldenble see
‘because of the absence of adlacent tise agains which the bleeding
‘in be amponadedAnterior abdominal wal
The vacua supply to the anterior abdominal wall ca be divided
supplied by the supeial epigstie, supeidal exe
supplied by the miaculophrenks lower intcostal, subconta atd
pganic veel from the mii srlevant ositng sug ich
‘at at net
Se un ey saith eioten
1070.1‘Skin and soft tissue
apm
gpa at
Syed ome ao
Pre
Somat
The inferior epgasc antes ascend and anastomose with thei
superior counterpart without ranching. about 30% of cas
(EE May and Mer 2002) Beading to eo ese before sa
omens the most common patem, accountng for almost OM of
“antic ateries have an average dhaeter of proximately my
their origin, compared to an average diameter of 6 ni atthe
tiga ofthe superior sigaic urea presmably epllning wy the
Inferior epiasti anries provide the dominant supply to recs
pevormed when preparing myocatarcou Nap ung the mid ower
‘ects abdoinis bated on the aperorepigatie artery, this encour
‘geste agmenttion ofthe superoe epigic arterlsupy
Tanches of te infest epigase artery atasomose with branches
cot the superior epigatric any within the recs shetth posterior to
tects abdomins ata warble lvl abowe the mbes (