buikwand

Buikwand, or the abdominal wall, is the protective and structural boundary of the abdominal cavity. It encloses the abdominal viscera, supports posture, and helps regulate intra-abdominal pressure during activities such as breathing, coughing, defecation, and childbirth.

Anatomy and layout: The buikwand comprises several layers from outer to inner: skin and subcutaneous tissue, including superficial fascia (campers and scarpa’s fascia in some regions); deep fascia; and a complex arrangement of muscles. The major muscles are the external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominis, with the rectus sheath formed by the combined aponeuroses of the oblique and transversus muscles. The linea alba is the midline tendinous seam where these aponeuroses meet. Deep to the muscle layers lies the transversalis fascia and the parietal peritoneum. Blood supply mainly comes from the superior and inferior epigastric arteries, with contributions from smaller vessels. Innervation is provided by lower intercostal nerves (T7–T12), the subcostal nerve, and the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.

Function: The buikwand protects abdominal organs, maintains intra-abdominal pressure, and supports trunk stability. It enables movements of the trunk and assists with forced expiration, coughing, defecation, urination, and childbirth through coordinated muscle activity.

Clinical relevance: The buikwand is a common site for conditions such as hernias (inguinal, umbilical, femoral, and incisional) and diastasis of the rectus abdominis. Surgical procedures often involve the abdominal wall, including hernia repairs, laparotomy incisions along the linea alba, and abdominoplasty, all of which interact with its muscular and fascial layers.