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 Guide
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the 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.
Prev
- 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
More Abdominal Exercise Advice
Best and Worst Abdominal Exercises Best Ab Exercise EquipmentTop 10 Question About Ab Exercies
Must Reads for Strong Abs
All Abs - Articles and LinksHow To Avoid Fat GainMore Ab Exercises to Try
Suggested Reading
Explore Sports Medicine
Must Reads
About.com Special Features
Conquering High Cholesterol
Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >
Also from About.com:
©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
All rights reserved.