14. Internal Oblique

Origin: Inguinal ligament, iliac crest, and lumbodorsal fascia

Insertion: Linea alba, pectineal line of the pubis, and ribs 10-12

Action:

  • Bilaterally compresses abdominal content
  • Unilaterally produces ipsilateral trunk rotation

Innervation: Thoracoabdominal nerves (T7-11), subcostal nerve (T12), iliohypogastric nerve (L1) and ilioinguinal nerve (L1)

Muscles of the abdomen anterolateral.
Figure 3.36 Internal obliques, by OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0.

Needling

Position: Supine

Palpation: Palpate along the iliac crest

Technique: Needle along the iliac crest using it as a bony backdrop

Caution: High – abdominal contents lie directly below and medial to this muscle

Needling external obliques.
Figure 3.37 Needling internal obliques, original image by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

Video 3.14 Needling of internal obliques, original video by Nadine Crocker, CC BY-NC 4.0.

License

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Sinew Channel Needling Copyright © 2026 by Nadine Crocker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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