Abdominal Muscles
~ The Trunk of Your Body ~

The abdominal muscles are a group of muscles that really don't need to be worked, unless you truly have weak ab muscles.

This area of your body is considered to be the trunk of your body. Picture a tree, the tree trunk is like our core and the branches on the tree are like our arms and legs.

The trunk of the tree must be strong enough to withstand strong, powerful winds right...otherwise it'll break easily. While the tree trunk stands firm and strong, the branches flow with the wind. Get the idea? Our bodies are similar, without a strong core our bodies are weak and easily injured.

Our abdominal muscles act as a girdle or belt for our stomach area. Especially when referring to the transversus abdominis. With these muscles nice and tight all our organs sit back in place like they're supposed to and won't droop forward creating the bulging belly that we want to get rid of so bad!

It's not enough to just have tight abdominal muscles, if there's layers of fat sitting on top of these muscles then there's that bulging belly again. We have to attack the fat as well as keeping the muscles tight.

With all the muscles that make up our core are, the four main muscle groups in the abs which combine together to completely cover and hold in our internal organs are:

• Transversus Abdominis Muscle - located directly beneath the internal oblique muscle. This is the deepest muscle layer. It runs from the ribs to the pelvis and wraps around the midsection from front to back, with fibers that run up and down, similar to a girdle.
  
  The action of this muscle is to help compress the internal organs and stabilize the spine. It's connected to the diaphragm so it also aides in breathing.








• The Rectus Abdominis Muscle - this is the muscle that is responsible for the famous "6 pack abs" and is well defined due to being well exercised. It stretches from the front of the ribs to the front of the pelvis.
  
  The main function is to flex the spine forward. This muscle also helps to stabilize the trunk area while the head and other extremities are moving.







• External Oblique Muscles - these muscles are located on each side of the rectus abdominis. It starts from the fifth rib all the way down to the top area of the hip bone called the iliac crest (You can feel the bone by pushing on your sides). If well exercised, this is the muscle that will form the "V" shape at the lower part of your abdomen.
  
  The external obliques allow your torso to twist from side to side, flexing the spine, bending sideways and squeezing the abdomen.








• Internal Oblique Muscles - a pair of deep muscles located just beneath the external oblique muscles and right above the transverse abdominal muscle. This muscle attaches from the lower three ribs down to the top of the hip bone and around to the lower back.
  
  The internal obliques also allow your torso to twist from side to side, flexing the spine, bending sideways and squeezing the abdomen.

• Muscle Anatomy Overview - Know Your Muscles
• There are Many Benefits of Stretching Exercises.
• Abdominal Stretches - Improve Your Balance & Flexibility
• Chiseling Ab Exercises - Get Those Sexy 6 Pack Abs!