The transversalis fascia (or transverse fascia) is a thin

aponeurotic An aponeurosis (; plural: ''aponeuroses'') is a type or a variant of the deep fascia, in the form of a sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that attaches sheet-like muscles needing a wide area of attachment. Their primary function is to join muscl ...

membrane of the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...

. It lies between the inner surface of the transverse abdominal muscle and the

parietal peritoneum The peritoneum is the serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids. It covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs, and is composed of a layer of mesothel ...

. It forms part of the general layer of

fascia A fascia (; plural fasciae or fascias; adjective fascial; from Latin: "band") is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches to, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs ...

lining the abdominal parietes. It is directly continuous with the

iliac fascia The iliac fascia, or Abernethy's fascia, is a fascia in the region of the ilium of the pelvis. It has the following connections: * ''laterally'', to the whole length of the inner lip of the iliac crest. * ''medially'', to the linea terminalis of ...

, the internal spermatic fascia, and pelvic fasciae.

Structure

In the inguinal region, the transversalis fascia is thick and dense. It is joined by fibers from the aponeurosis of the transverse abdominal muscle. It becomes thin as it ascends to the

diaphragm Diaphragm may refer to: Anatomy * Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen * Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure * Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure Other * Diap ...

and blends with the fascia covering the under surface of this muscle. It is directly continuous with the

, the internal spermatic fascia, and pelvic fasciae.

Borders

Behind, it is lost in the fat which covers the posterior surfaces of the

kidneys The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; bloo ...

. Below, it has the following attachments: posteriorly, to the whole length of the

iliac crest The crest of the ilium (or iliac crest) is the superior border of the wing of ilium and the superiolateral margin of the greater pelvis. Structure The iliac crest stretches posteriorly from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the poster ...

, between the attachments of the transverse abdominal and

Iliacus The iliacus is a flat, triangular muscle which fills the iliac fossa. It forms the lateral portion of iliopsoas, providing flexion of the thigh and lower limb at the acetabulofemoral joint. Structure The iliacus arises from the iliac fossa on ...

; between the

anterior superior iliac spine The anterior superior iliac spine ( abbreviated: ASIS) is a bony projection of the iliac bone, and an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis. It provides attachment for the i ...

and the

femoral vessel The femoral vessels are those blood vessels passing through the femoral ring into the femoral canal thereby passing down the length of the thigh until behind the knee. These large vessel are the: * Femoral artery (also known in this location a ...

s it is connected to the posterior margin of the

inguinal ligament The inguinal ligament (), also known as Poupart's ligament or groin ligament, is a band running from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine. It forms the base of the inguinal canal through which an indirect inguinal hernia may ...

, and is there continuous with the

. Medial to the femoral vessels it is thin and attached to the pubis and pectineal line, behind the

inguinal falx The conjoint tendon (previously known as the inguinal aponeurotic falx) is a sheath of connective tissue formed from the lower part of the common aponeurosis of the abdominal internal oblique muscle and the transversus abdominis muscle, joining th ...

, with which it is united; it descends in front of the femoral vessels to form the anterior wall of the

femoral sheath The femoral sheath (also called the crural sheath) is a funnel-shaped downward extension of abdominal fascia within which the femoral artery and femoral vein pass between the abdomen and the thigh. The femoral sheath is subdivided by two vertical ...

. Beneath the inguinal ligament it is strengthened by a band of fibrous tissue, which is only loosely connected to the ligament, and is specialized as the

iliopubic tract The iliopubic tract is a thickened band of fibers curving over the external iliac vessels, at the spot where they become femoral, on the abdominal side of the inguinal ligaments and loosely connected with it. It is apparently a thickening of the t ...

Opening

The

spermatic cord The spermatic cord is the cord-like structure in males formed by the vas deferens (''ductus deferens'') and surrounding tissue that runs from the deep inguinal ring down to each testicle. Its serosal covering, the tunica vaginalis, is an exten ...

in the male and the

round ligament of the uterus The round ligament of the uterus is a ligament that connects the uterus to the labia majora. Structure The round ligament of the uterus originates at the uterine horns, in the parametrium. The round ligament exits the pelvis via the deep inguina ...

in the female pass through the transversalis fascia at the

deep inguinal ring The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

, the entrance to the

inguinal canal The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

. This opening is not visible externally. In the male, the transverse fascia extends downwards as the internal spermatic fascia.

Additional images

File:Rectus abdominis muscle 2.jpg, Transversalis fascia File:Gray399.svg, Diagram of sheath of Rectus. File:Gray400.png, Diagram of a transverse section through the anterior abdominal wall, below the linea semicircularis. File:Gray547.png, Gray547.png

References

External links

* - "Layers of the anterior wall." * - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The

Inguinal canal The inguinal canals are the two passages in the anterior abdominal wall of humans and animals which in males convey the spermatic cords and in females the round ligament of the uterus. The inguinal canals are larger and more prominent in males. ...

" * (look for #2) * {{Authority control Abdomen Fascia