Anatomy study note · Abdomen

Linea alba

The fibrous band in the anterior midline, from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis, formed by the interlacing aponeuroses of the flat abdominal muscles of the two sides.

Key points

• Xiphoid → pubic symphysis.
• Fused aponeuroses of the external oblique, internal oblique and transversus.
• Wider above the umbilicus.
• Sites of epigastric hernia and separation of the recti.
• Connective tissue: from leftover mesenchyme.
• Aponeurosis: from epimysium.
• Dense CT: irregular (capsules) or regular (tendons, ligaments).

The full note in the atlas also covers

Features · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 6, PDF pp. 711–713, 758–763
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 7, PDF pp. 94–95
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 6, PDF p. 110; ch. 8, PDF p. 135

More from the abdomen

• Liver
• Lumbar plexus
• Pancreas
• Peritoneum
• Portal vein
• Psoas major
• Pyramidalis
• Quadratus lumborum
• Rectus abdominis
• Renal arteries and veins
• Spleen
• Stomach

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