Hello OCADers,
I got the following question from my anatomy colleagues and wanted to see what our thoughts are.
In a recent subcommittee meeting of the Clinical Anatomical Terminology Committee, we got side-tracked on a discussion of whether the rectus abdominis muscle should be defined – for the general/first-time learner – as a unilateral muscle with left and right instances, or as one muscle spanning the midline with left/right regions. It had not occurred to me that it wasn’t universally considered two muscles (left and right).
It was agreed that embryologically the left and right sides originate separately. The debate is that – allegedly – clinicians only ever talk about and refer to "the" rectus abdominis muscle as if it was a single entity. Evidently, there is also some evidence for fascia crossing the midline. So, two questions for you:
1. Do clinicians of various specialties in fact predominately speak of the rectus abdominis muscle as a single muscle (that has left and right regions)?
2. Regardless of #1, do you think it is best defined as a single muscle with left and right regions, or as two muscles (one on the left, one on the right)?
This is an informal poll to help us get a better lay of the professional landscape. (Muscles with midline raphes are also on our radar, but have been less controversial for some reason).
Thanks,
Cody Quirk
