Arcuate line

Last revised by Yoshi Yu on 27 Mar 2023

The arcuate line or semicircular line of Douglas is located approximately halfway between the pubic crest and the umbilicus 1. It is the demarcation where the internal oblique and transversus abdominis aponeuroses of the rectus sheath start to pass anteriorly to the rectus abdominis muscle, leaving only the transversalis fascia posteriorly.

Superior to the arcuate line, the aponeurosis of external oblique passes anterior to rectus abdominis, the aponeurosis of internal oblique splits around the rectus abdominis and the aponeurosis of transversus abdominis and transversalis fascia pass posteriorly. The inferior epigastric arteries enter the rectus sheath at the arcuate line 1.

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