Learn More about the Rectus Abdominis Muscle

You may be one of those people who spend a lot of time sweating in the gym or doing abdominal crunches by the hundreds just to get the perfect set of abs. Yet, do you really know much about your abdominal muscles? In order to achieve the best results out of your workout you have to learn about the rectus abdominis or the abdominal muscles. Knowing more about its structures can help you shape it according to your desires.

Anatomy of the Muscle
Anatomically, the rectus abdominis muscles refer to the pair of muscles that are located in the frontal area of your abdomen. These muscles are divided by a single line of tissue called the linea alba extending from your pubic bone up to the lower portion of your rib cage.

These muscles are cased in several layers of tendon called the rectus sheath that protects the muscles from tearing. Now if you are wondering how to achieve 6-pack abs then you have to know that these pairs of abdominal muscles are horizontally separated by three bands referred to as the tendinous inscriptions that are situated in the 5th, 6th and 7th rib area.

The bands that divide your abdominal muscles are the ones accountable for the 6-pack abs that you always wish for. Yet, in some cases an individual may have four or five tendinous inscriptions leading to an 8-pack and in extraordinary cases, 10-pack abs.

Benefits of Perfect Abs
Having a perfect set of rectus abdominis muscles is not just for show because it presents many benefits such as the following:

It protects the internal organs within the abdominal area.
It stops the development of hernia, a condition where internal organs protrude out of the abdominal wall.
It preserves the integrity of your internal organs during childbirth, lifting and defecation.
It maintains your good posture and serves as support to your upper torso.
It promotes proper breathing by soothing your respiration in times when you are experiencing difficulty in breathing.

Shaping Abdominal Muscles
Achieving the perfect set of abdominal muscles is not something that you can do overnight. Thus, you need a lot of patience and hard work along the way. There are also workout programs that are specific to the abdominal muscles. Other than these programs you can also perform regular abdominal crunches and bicycle activities to help you burn calories and develop strong and firm rectus abdominis muscles.