The Compleat Surgeon / or, the whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method.

by M. Le Clerc

Of the Myology, or Anatomy of the Muscles of the lower Belly.

How many Muscles are there in the lower Belly, and which be they?

There are generally ten, five on each side, that is to say, two Obliqui, one ascending, and the other descending; one Transversus, one Rectus, and two Pyramidal, of which last, nevertheless, there is sometimes only one, and sometimes none at all.

The Obliquus Descendens, which is the first, hath its Original by digitation in the sixth and seventh of the true Ribs, in all the spurious Ribs, and in the transverse Apophyses of the Vertebra's of the Loins, and comes near to the Serratus Major Anticus of the Breast; from whence it proceeds to the external Rib of the Os Ilion, and is terminated by a large Aponeurosis in the Linea Alba or White Line, which separates the Muscles that are on each side of the Abdomen or lower Belly.

The Obliquus Ascendens ariseth from its Source in the upper part of the Os Pubis, and in the Ridge of the Hip-Bone, till it cleaves to the Apophyses of the Vertebra's of the Loins in the Extremities of all the Ribs, and in the Xiphoides or Sword-like Cartilage, and is terminated in the White Line by a large Aponeurosis.

The Rectus being situated between the Aponeuroses of the Obliquus, takes its rise in the Cartilages of the Ribs, in the Xiphoides and the Sternum, and enters into the Os Pubis, having many nervous parts to corroborate it in its length.

The Transversus having its beginning in the transverse Apophyses of the Vertebra's of the Loins, is fasten'd to the internal Rib of the Os Ilium, and within the Cartilages of the lower Ribs, and is terminated by a large Aponeurosis in the Linea Alba, passing over the Rectus, and sticking to the Peritonæum.

The Oblique Muscles, and the Transverse, have Holes toward the Groin, to give Passage to the Spermatick Vessels of Men, and to a round

ligament of the Matrix in Women; so that Ruptures or Burstenness happen through these parts in both Sexes, although the Holes of these three Muscles are not situated one over-against another.