15. Transverse Abdominis

Origin: Lateral 1/3 of the inguinal ligament, anterior 2/3 of the iliac crest, thoracolumbar fascia, and inner surface of lower 6 costal cartilages and their ribs (7-12)

Insertion: Linea alba, aponeurosis of internal oblique, pubic crest and pectineal line of the pubis

Action:

  • Increases intraabdominal pressure
  • Assists in supporting the lumbar spine
  • Unilaterally ipsilateral trunk rotation

Innervation: Lower 5 intercostal nerves, subcostal nerve (T12), ilioinguinal (L1), and iliohypogastric (L1) nerve

Transverse abdominis.
Figure 3.38 Transverse abdominis, adapted by Uwe Gille from the original image by Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter (Public domain).

Needling

Typically, this muscle is not considered when needling as it is too deep.

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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