💪 External Oblique

Brian Lee
May 30, 2025
Review Pending

Summary

Origins

External surfaces of ribs 5–12

Insertions

🔗 Linea Alba

📍 Pubic Tubercle

Anterior half of iliac crest

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

• 📕 Goldfinger 1991, 139-140.
• 📕 Hale And Coyle 1977
  • 22: Raphael. (Q). Profile view. Male.
    
    

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  • 24: Pontormo. (A) and (D). Profile and 3/4 views. Male.
  • 28: Tiepolo. (Q). Back view. Male.
  • 36: Piombo. (E). Front view. Female.
• Wikipedia