Linea alba (abdomen)

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Linea alba
Diagram of the rectus sheath.
The abdominal external oblique muscle.
Details
Identifiers
Latinlinea alba
TA98A04.5.01.022
TA22377
FMA11336
Anatomical terminology

The linea alba (Latin for: white line) is a fibrous midline structure[1] of the anterior abdominal wall[2] situated between the two recti abdominis muscles (one on either side). The umbilicus (navel) is present on the linea alba through which foetal umbilical vessels pass before birth.[1] The linea alba is formed by the union of aponeuroses (of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall[2]) that collectively make up the rectus sheath. The linea alba attaches to the xiphoid process superiorly, and to the pubic symphysis inferiorly. It is narrow inferiorly where the two recti abdominis muscles are in contact with each other posterior to it, and broadens superior-ward from just inferior to the umbilicus.[1]

The name means white line as it is composed mostly of collagen connective tissue,[3] which has a white appearance.

Function

The linea alba stabilizes the anterior abdominal wall, as it balances contractile forces from the muscles attached to it.[2]

Clinical significance

An abnormal widening of the linea alba and the abdomanal wall generally is known as diastasis recti.

A median incision through the linea alba is a common surgical approach for abdominal surgery.[1] This is because it consists of mostly connective tissue, and does not contain any primary nerves or blood vessels.[1] The linea alba is narrower below the belly button and is hard to close (sew together), so it a common site of hernias following surgery.[1]

In C-sections, the two rectus abdominis muscles must be separated in order to access the uterus underneath; in most C/S techniques, these are typically manually pulled apart, and thus "blunt dissection" (tearing) through the linea alba occurs. In Pfannenstiel-Kerr method sharp dissection (cutting with a scalpel) is used.[4]

Additional images

See also

References

  1. Sinnatamby, Chummy (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  2. Gräβel, David; Prescher, Andreas; Fitzek, Sabine; Keyserlingk, Diedrich Graf v.; Axer, Hubertus (2005-03-01). "Anisotropy of human linea alba: A biomechanical study". Journal of Surgical Research. 124 (1): 118–125. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2004.10.010. ISSN 0022-4804. PMID 15734489.
  3. Käser, Samuel (2025), "Anatomy of the Linea Alba", in Kudsi, Omar Yusef; Dietz, Ulrich A.; Fortelny, René; Beldi, Guido (eds.), Robotic Hernia Surgery, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, pp. 173–177, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-71630-4_29, ISBN 978-3-662-71630-4, retrieved 2026-06-17
  4. Sung, Sharon; Mikes, Beverly A.; Martingano, Daniel J.; Mahdy, Heba (2026), "Cesarean Delivery", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31536313, retrieved 2026-06-17