This muscle doesn't help move the spine or the pelvis, but it does help with respiration and breathing. This muscle helps facilitate forceful expiration of air from the lungs, stabilizes the spine and helps compress the internal organs.
Abdominal Muscles - How to Exercise Your Abs
By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com
Updated: May 12, 2008
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Medical Review Board
Abdominal Muscles - The Transversus Abdominis
The Transversus Abdominis Muscle
Gray's Anatomy/Wickimedia Commons
The deepest layer of abdominal muscles is called the "transversus abdominis." The transverse abdominal muscle wraps around the torso from front to back and from the ribs to the pelvis. The muscle fibers of the transversus abdominis run horizontally, similar to a corset or a weight belt.
Index: Abdominal Muscles - How to Exercise Your Abs
- Abdominal Muscles - Where They Are and How They Work
- Abdominal Muscles - The Rectus Abdominis
- Abdominal Muscles - The External Obliques
- Abdominal Muscles - The Internal Obliques
- Abdominal Muscles - The Transversus Abdominis
- The Hip Flexors
- Design an Effective Abdominal Exercise Routine
- Great Ab Exercises To Try
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