
What is the function of the internal and external obliques?
Unilaterally, they laterally flex the trunk and rotate it to the same side. Like the internal obliques, the external obliques function bilaterally to flex the trunk and compress its contents. However, they function unilaterally to laterally flex the trunk and rotate the trunk to the opposite side.
What are the best oblique exercises?
The 30 Best Exercises to Sculpt Your Obliques
- Swiss-Ball Stir-the-Pot. Assume a plank position with your forearms on a Swiss ball. ...
- Cross-Body Mountain Climber. Get into a pushup position. ...
- Half-Kneeling Cable Chop. Attach a rope handle to the high pulley of a cable station. ...
- Medicine-Ball Rotational Toss. Grab a medicine ball and stand sideways, about 3 feet away from a solid wall. ...
What is the action of the obliques?
The internal oblique performs a number of important actions in the body, including:
- Flexion of the trunk
- Lateral rotation of the trunk
- Lateral flexion of the trunk
What is the function of the external oblique?
- Pulling the spine forward as the external oblique contracts (like in crunches or sit-ups)
- Stabilizing the core
- Moving the spine in any direction

What is the function of the obliques muscle?
The external obliques on either side not only help rotate the trunk, but they perform a few other vital functions. These muscles help pull the chest, as a whole, downwards, which compresses the abdominal cavity. Although relatively minor in scope, the external oblique muscle also supports the rotation of the spine.
What is the action of the oblique?
The internal oblique has several different actions, including: Flexion of the trunk: bending the trunk forward. Lateral rotation of the trunk: turning the trunk to either side. Lateral flexion of the trunk: bending the trunk to either side.
Where are the oblique muscles located and what is their function?
External abdominal oblique is a paired muscle located on the lateral sides of the abdominal wall. Along with internal abdominal oblique and transversus abdominis, it comprises the lateral abdominal muscles....External abdominal oblique muscle.OriginExternal surfaces of ribs 5-12InsertionLinea alba, pubic tubercle, anterior half of iliac crest3 more rows•May 11, 2020
Are obliques love handles?
Love handles lie on top of the obliques, which are a very specific group of abdominal muscles.
What causes pain in the internal oblique?
An oblique muscle strain is most likely caused when your torso—the part of your body (trunk) excluding head and limbs—gets twisted or rotated badly. Other oblique muscle strain causes include: Too much use of the muscle. Intense workouts.
Do obliques make your waist bigger?
Because the obliques are positioned mainly along the sides of your torso, the effect is to actually thicken your waist. Probably not the effect you're going for.
What is best exercise for obliques?
Best Oblique ExercisesSide Jackknife.Copenhagen Plank.Push-Up to Side Plank.Unilateral Squat.Single-Arm Kettlebell Swing.Side Plank Cable Row.Hanging Oblique Raise.Kettlebell Windmill.More items...•
Can you tear your oblique muscle?
An oblique muscle strain is a strain to one of the muscles within the abdominal wall. Muscle strains occur whenever the muscles are stretched beyond their limits. Whenever this occurs, the muscle fibers end up tearing. Most of the time, the strain causes a microscopic tear in the muscle.
What does oblique mean in anatomy?
Situated in a slanting position(ō-blēk′, ə-blēk′) adj. Anatomy Situated in a slanting position; not transverse or longitudinal: oblique muscles or ligaments.
What does oblique mean in radiology?
In radiology, an alignment of the body between a lateral and an anteroposterior or posteroanterior position. The angle formed by the body surface and the image receptor may vary. The central ray enters the aspect of the body that is upright and facing away from the image receptor.
What is the function of the internal and external obliques?
The external and internal oblique muscles rotate and side bend the trunk. These muscles also contribute to spinal stability.
What is an oblique character?
1 adj If you describe a statement as oblique, you mean that is not expressed directly or openly, making it difficult to understand.
What is the function of obliques?
Oblique Muscle Function, Strain and Treatment. The obliques are one of the muscle groups within the abdominal muscles. Abdominal strain, including oblique muscle strain, is common among active people and athletes since the muscles are constantly engaged. Keeping them engaged allows the athlete to tighten their core and improve performance ...
How Does Oblique Muscle Strain Happen?
Keep in mind that your obliques connect your lower back, abdominal fascia, top portion of your hip bone, and ribs . The easiest way to remember this is to think of your obliques as your waist muscles.
What Does It Feel Like to Have Oblique Muscle Strain?
The most important symptoms of an oblique muscle strain are pain and stiffness. The strain may lead to a sharp pain along the lower chest and side of the abdomen due to forcefully bending or twisting the trunk. This pain occurs as the muscle fibers develop microscopic tears.
What muscles help you breathe?
Your oblique muscles are a key component of the abdomen as they let you bend sideways and twist your trunk. They also help somewhat with breathing. The top of the obliques connects with the ribs while the lower end connects with the hip bone. Everyone has both internal and external oblique muscles.
Why does my oblique muscle hurt?
It is possible to strain or cause pain to your obliques from forcefully and suddenly bending or twisting, a direct trauma to the abdomen, or overuse. Numerous activities have been known to lead to oblique muscle strain and pain, including the following: Bending or twisting in exercises. Rowing. Chronic coughing.
Why do my oblique muscles feel stiff?
Following a strain, your oblique muscles may feel stiff and this will be more common in the morning when you wake up. It is possible that your muscles will be stiff enough to restrict your daily tasks.
How long after straining oblique muscle can you apply heat?
Heat Application. You will want to avoid applying heat for the first 72 hours after you strain your oblique muscle as this will slow down the process of healing. After three days have passed, use warm compresses to increase blood and nutrient flow. Don’t apply the heat directly to the skin; doing so may lead to burns.
What is the external oblique muscle?
The external oblique muscle is one of the largest parts of the trunk area. Each side of the body has an external oblique muscle. The external oblique muscle is one of the outermost abdominal muscles, ...
Which muscle is located on the outer side of the body?
Each side of the body has an external oblique muscle. The external oblique muscle is one of the outermost abdominal muscles, extending from the lower half of the ribs around and down to the pelvis.
What muscle supports the rotation of the spine?
Although relatively minor in scope, the external oblique muscle also supports the rotation of the spine. Since the muscle contributes to a variety of trunk movements, strain or injury to the muscle can be debilitating. This may include movements that do not directly use the muscle.
What muscles help pull the chest?
The external obliques on either side not only help rotate the trunk, but they perform a few other vital functions. These muscles help pull the chest, as a whole, downwards, which compresses the abdominal cavity. Although relatively minor in scope, the external oblique muscle also supports the rotation of the spine.
What Is an Oblique Muscle Strain?
The external and internal oblique muscles function together to let you rotate and bend your torso easily. The external oblique muscles cover the larger part of your waist and lie close to the skin surface. The internal oblique muscles are located near the abdomen.
What Causes an Oblique Muscle Strain?
An oblique muscle strain is most likely caused when your torso—the part of your body (trunk) excluding head and limbs—gets twisted or rotated badly.
How Is an Oblique Muscle Strain Diagnosed?
See a doctor if you feel sudden pain in your abdominal area. Your doctor might order tests to rule out other conditions, such as a hernia —a condition when an internal organ pushes through the wall of a muscle or tissue.
What Is the Treatment for an Oblique Muscle Strain?
The most effective oblique muscle strain treatment is physical therapy. It will reduce inflammation and help you regain flexibility in your abdominal muscles.
What do the oblique muscles do?
Together, the obliques perform a variety of different functions including flexing/bending the torso forward and sideways, rotating the torso to both the right and left, and helping to provide stability to ...
What is the job of the external oblique?
The external oblique is the largest muscle closest to the surface on your side. Its main job is to pull the chest downwards and compress the abdominal cavity. The internal obliques, on the other hand, have two main jobs.
What muscles help you bend from side to side?
Your oblique muscles help you bend from side to side and twist your torso. If you obliques are strong the support the lower back and improve posture. Your have external obliques and internal obliques. The external oblique is the largest muscle closest to the surface on your side.
Why do you need strong obliques?
When it comes to compound movements, your body needs strong obliques in order to stay balanced; for instance when performing squats, you need strong obliques so that you don’t bend too far forwards and break form.
How to do decline obliques?
The exercise is simply performed using a decline sit-up bench, where you’ll perform a sit up and crunch to one side at the top of the contraction.
What muscles run on each side of the body?
Associated with the abdominal muscles, the obliques are the muscles that run on each side of your midsection, from the side of your abdominals up towards your lats. Obliques are beneficial for a number of reasons. When it comes to compound movements, your body needs strong obliques in order to stay balanced; for instance when performing squats, ...
How to do the D in a squat?
D: Descend back to the bottom of the movement and crunch back up to the right, using your LEFT obliques to crunch at the top of the movement.
What does it mean when your shoulders are wider?
The leaner (lower body fat percentage) you are, the bigger the impression your obliques will have on the overall aesthetics of your torso; by making your shoulders appear wider and your waist appear narrower.
What is the function of the superior oblique muscle?
The function of the superior oblique muscle is to produce eye movements which direct the gaze inferolaterally by abducting, depressing and internally rotating the eye . Key facts about the superior oblique muscle. Origin. Body of the sphenoid bone. Insertion.
Which oblique is responsible for abduction?
This allows the superior oblique to direct the gaze in several different directions while providing stability for the eyeball by counteracting head movements. When the eyeball is in a neutral position, superior oblique is responsible for abduction (directed laterally from the nose), depression (inferiorly) and internal rotation ...
What are the extraocular muscles?
Superior oblique muscle. The extraocular muscles are a group of six extrinsic muscles of the eye. These are the superior rectus, lateral rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, superior oblique and inferior oblique muscles. Located within the orbit, they surround the eyeball completely, facilitating its movement in various directions.
What is the muscle that surrounds the eyeball?
The eyeball and all of the extraocular muscles are enveloped by a muscular fascia, derived from the fascial sheath of the eyeball (Tenon’s capsule). This is an important clinical point due to the fact that the subtendinous space is a common location for the injection of local anesthetics during various surgical procedures in this region.
What causes the superior oblique muscle to be impaired?
Clinical relations. Impaired function of the superior oblique muscle is usually caused by lesions of the trochlear nerve somewhere on its long path from the brainstem to the orbit. Isolated injury of this nerve is fairly rare, it's usually combined with injuries of other cranial nerves.
Where does the superior oblique originate?
The superior oblique muscle originates from the body of sphenoid bone, medial to the origin of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle and superomedial to the optic canal. In contrast to the other extraocular muscles, superior oblique and inferior oblique do not originate from the common tendinous ring. Instead superior oblique originates ...
Which cranial nerve innervates the superior oblique muscle?
Innervation. Superior oblique is the only extraocular muscle that receives its innervation through the trochlear nerve (CN IV). Trochlear nerve is the only cranial nerve that emerges from the posterior aspect of the brainstem.
Where is the internal oblique located?
The internal oblique is an abdominal muscle located beneath the external abdominal oblique.
Which muscle is located closer to the skin than the transverse abdominal muscle?
The internal abdominal oblique muscle is located closer to the skin than the transverse abdominal muscle. This muscle supports the abdominal wall, assists in forced respiration, aids in raising pressure in the abdominal area, and rotates and turns the trunk with help from other muscles.
What muscle is the opposite of the diaphragm?
The internal abdominal oblique muscle is an opposing force to the diaphragm, reducing upper chest cavity volume during exhalation. As the diaphragm contracts, the chest cavity is pulled down to increase lung size.
What muscles are called the same side rotators?
Internal abdominal oblique muscles are called “same side rotators.”. The right internal oblique works with the left external oblique, and vice versa, when flexing and rotating the torso.
Which muscle is in the same plane as the inferior oblique?
The fascial sheath of inferior oblique blends with the thickened sheath of the inferior rectus muscle.
What is inferior oblique?
Inferior oblique muscle (Musculus obliquus inferior) Inferior oblique is a thin, narrow muscle of the eye. It is one of the 6 extraocular muscles, also referred to as the extrinsic muscles of the orbit. Like the other eye muscles, inferior oblique is named by its position within the orbit, relative to the eyeball.
How do extraocular muscles work?
All extraocular muscles work either in synergy or opposition to one another. For example, the inferior oblique muscle works in synergy with the superior rectus muscle to elevate the pupil, but at the same time their rotatory actions oppose and neutralize each other. The complimentary action is important to ensure that no rotation of the eyeball occurs during its elevation. In addition to these functions, the inferior oblique muscle also acts with the aforementioned check ligaments and the retrobulbar fat to prevent retraction of the eyeball by the rectus muscles. These structures provide support for the eyeball and help retain its position.
How does the inferior oblique rotate the visual axis?
By elevating and abducting the eyeball the inferior oblique rotates the visual axis upwards and outwards. This is significant for functions such as looking up from reading, in which the eyes move from a state of convergence. All extraocular muscles work either in synergy or opposition to one another.
What is the function of the eyeball muscle?
The primary action of this muscle is to elevate and abduct (laterally move) the eyeball. It acts in a coordinated manner with the other extraocular muscles to control the movements of the eye; positioning the pupil and adjusting the direction of the gaze. ...
Which muscle pulls the eyeball in a direction posterior to its vertical axis?
Function. Due to its oblique course and attachment on the posterolateral side of the eyeball, contraction of the inferior oblique muscle pulls the eyeball in a direction posterior to its vertical axis, and therefore rotates the eye laterally around this axis.
Where does the inferior oblique originate?
Similar to the superior oblique muscle, but unlike the recti muscles, inferior oblique does not originate from the common tendinous ring (annulus of Zinn). Instead, inferior oblique arises from the anterior aspect of the orbit.
What causes an oblique injury?
Sports activities that involve planting the feet and twisting with maximum effort can injure the oblique muscle.
How is an oblique injury diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about the symptoms and how the injury occurred. They will perform a physical examination, wherein they will likely ask you to do a sit-up or flex your trunk against resistance.
How is an oblique injury treated?
Mild oblique injuries, such as oblique strains, resolve in one to two weeks with typical treatment that involves:
How to prevent oblique injuries
There is no single thing that can guarantee the prevention of oblique injuries if you are an athlete involved in sports activities that require frequent rotation and twisting of your body.
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