Table of Contents
Summary
- Origins
- External surfaces of ribs 5–12
- Insertions
- Linea Alba
- 📍 Pubic Tubercle
- Anterior half of iliac crest
- 📍 Pubic Tubercle
- Actions
- Compresses abdominal contents; flexes and rotates trunk (contralateral rotation)
Illustrations

Etymology
🤖
The term “external oblique” has Latin roots commonly used in anatomical nomenclature:
- External: from Latin externus, meaning “outer” or “on the outside.”
- Oblique: from Latin obliquus, meaning “slanting” or “diagonal.”
Thus, “external oblique” refers to the outermost of the obliquely (diagonally) arranged abdominal muscles. It’s distinguished from the internal oblique, which lies beneath it and has fibers running at roughly right angles to those of the external oblique. The terminology describes both position (external) and fiber direction (oblique).
References
- đź“• Gf, 139-140.
- Hale And Coyle 1977
- Wikipedia