More ab talk! Yesterday we discussed the most well-known of the abs, the rectus abdominus and today we going to chat about the ab muscles that run up the sides.
External Oblique Muscles
This pair of muscle are located on each side of the
rectus abdominis. The muscle fibers of the external obliques run
diagonally downward and inward from the lower ribs to the pelvis,
forming the letter V.
The external obliques originate at the fifth ribs and run to twelfth ribs and insert into the iliac crest, the inguinal ligament, and the linea alba of the rectus abdominis. So they run under the rectus abdominus.
The external oblique muscles allows rotation of the torso, sideways bending, compression of the abdomen and flexion of the spine. (Flexion is when a joint closes, for example the knee is in flexion as the foot is drawn closer to the glutes). Your external obliques come into play when you extend to shake hands with someone or open a door.
This set of muscles plays a huge role in stabilizing your core when movements require placing weight overhead from a single dumbbell in a lunge or snatch to overhead squat.
I love obliques!
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