Abdominal Muscles Location and Function Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Ab Workouts Abdominal Muscles Location and Function By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 12, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Michael Lau, PT, DPT Medically reviewed by Michael Lau, PT, DPT Michael Lau, PT, DPT, CSCS, is a licensed physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach, and co-founder of The Prehab Guys. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Ben Goldstein Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Rectus Abdominis External Obliques Internal Obliques Transversus Abdominis Hip Flexors Design An Effective Ab Workout If you exercise, you may be looking for the best routine for developing flat, tight abdominal muscles. Every year, there are dozens of new exercises, fitness classes, products, gadgets, or routines claiming to sculpt and strengthen the abdominal muscles. While some of these may offer a new approach to working the abs, many exercises are ineffective. And some abdominal devices may even increase your risk of injury. To avoid falling victim to unproven, misleading, or unsafe abdominal exercise claims, it's important to have an understanding of the function of your abs. This includes knowing where each of the muscles is, what they do, and how they can be exercised with the least risk of injury. Rectus Abdominis The most well-known and prominent abdominal muscle is the rectus abdominis. It is the long, flat muscle that extends vertically between the pubis and the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. The rectus abdominis connects to the xiphoid process, a bony landmark at the bottom of the sternum. A strong, tendinous sheath called the "linea alba," or white line divides the rectus abdominis down the middle. Three more horizontal tendinous sheaths give the muscle its familiar "six-pack" look in very fit athletes. The rectus abdominis helps flex the spinal column, narrowing the space between the pelvis and the ribs. It is also active during side bending motions and helps stabilize the trunk during movements involving the extremities and head. External Obliques The next group of muscles that make up the abdominals is the external oblique muscles. This pair of muscles is 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. You can locate them by putting your hands in your coat pockets. The external obliques originate at the fifth to twelfth ribs and insert into the iliac crest, the inguinal ligament, and the linea alba of the rectus abdominis. They allow flexion of the spine, rotation of the torso, sideways bending, and compression of the abdomen. Internal Obliques The internal oblique muscles are a pair of deep muscles that are just below the external obliques. The internal and external obliques are at right angles to each other. The internal obliques attach from the lower three ribs to the linea alba and from the inguinal ligament to the iliac crest and then to the lower back (thoracolumbar fascia). The lower muscle fibers of the internal obliques run nearly horizontally. Along with the external obliques, the internal obliques are involved in flexing the spinal column, sideways bending, trunk rotation, and compressing the abdomen. Because of their unique alignment (at right angles to each other), the internal and external obliques are referred to as opposite-side rotators. Both do side bending to the same side, but the external oblique on the left rotates the trunk/spine to the right, whereas the internal oblique on the left rotates the trunk/spine to the left. Transversus Abdominis The deepest layer of abdominal muscles is called the "transversus abdominis" or TVA. The TVA muscle wraps around the torso from front to back and from the ribs to the pelvis. Its muscle fibers run horizontally, similar to a corset or a weight belt. This muscle doesn't move the spine or pelvis, but it does help with respiration and breathing. Specifically, it helps facilitate the forceful expiration of air from the lungs while also stabilizing the spine and supporting the abdominal wall. To engage your transversus abdominis, "focus on exhaling and at the very end of the exhalation, contract the pelvic floor muscles and TVA," says Kristin McGee, Peloton yoga and meditation Instructor. "When you fill up with breath, try and expand the back and sides of the waist," McGee adds, "and not put too much pressure on the front of the abs." Hip Flexors The hip flexors are a group of muscles that bring the legs and trunk together in a flexion movement. They are not technically abdominal muscles, but they do facilitate movements during several ab exercises. The muscles that make up the primary hip flexors are: Psoas majorIlliacusRectus femorisPsoas minor Some ab exercises work the hip flexors more than the abs. One example is the full sit-up exercise, especially when the feet are held down. This movement primarily involves the hip flexors and may cause the lower back to arch. This could increase the risk of back pain, particularly if you have weak abdominal muscles. Therefore, the full sit-up is not recommended for beginners. Another example of an ab exercise that works the hip flexors is any leg-raising exercise done in a supine (lying face up) position. Again, this movement works the hip flexors far more than the abs and shouldn't be done until you have good abdominal strength. The hip flexors are strong, powerful muscles that can overtake the abdominal muscles in some ab exercises. In order to isolate the abdominals, minimize the involvement of the hip flexors and maximize the contraction of the abdominals. Design An Effective Ab Workout Now that you have a basic understanding of what the abdominal muscles are and how they work, you can design workouts that really target these muscles. Select five to 10 exercises that combine these four elements. Perform 10 reps of each exercise, then move on to the next. Change your exercise routine every two to three weeks. Spinal Flexion Basic crunch Reverse crunch Ab crunch on an exercise ball Long arm crunch Captain's chair Rotation Bicycle crunch Seated oblique twist with a medicine ball Extension Superman Back extension Bird-dog Stability Plank Side plank Reverse plank Bridge Isometric exercises (such as the plank and the bird-dog) that focus on limiting trunk movement are great abdominal exercises. Another option is the pallof press, an anti-rotation movement that strengthens the core. To perform the movement, use a band or cable that is fixed to a steady surface at torso height. Stand far enough away from the band so that when you hold the band in front of your sternum, there is tension. When you are facing forward, the band will be affixed on your side. Extend your arms (and the band) fully in front of your chest, then bring them back in close to your chest. Resist giving in to the side pull and rotating your torso toward the band's anchor. Use Good Form Contract your abs and pull your belly button in toward your spine with each contraction.Move slowly and with control.Support your head when you need to, but don't pull on your head or pull your chin to your chest. 5 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Vispute SS, Smith JD, LeCheminant JD, Hurley KS. The effect of abdominal exercise on abdominal fat. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(9):2559-64. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318fb4a46 Nolte K, Kruger P, Els P, Nolte H. Three dimensional musculoskeletal modelling of the abdominal crunch resistance training exercise. J Sports Sci. 2013;31(3):264-75. doi:10.1080/02640414.2012.729077 Hosford B. Understanding and training external and internal obliques. National Federation of Personal Trainers. Kim E, Lee H. The effects of deep abdominal muscle strengthening exercises on respiratory function and lumbar stability. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013;25(6):663-665. doi:10.1589/jpts.25.663 Sullivan W, Gardin F, Bellon C, Leigh S. Effect of traditional vs. modified bent-knee sit-up on abdominal and hip flexor muscle electromyographic activity. J Strength Cond Res. 2015;29(12):3472-9. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000001006 By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. 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