Oblique

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Oblique refers to a term used in anatomy to describe a muscle that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the long axis of a body or limb. The term is often used to describe muscles that run at an angle to the long axis. Oblique muscles are found in various parts of the body, including the abdomen, where they form part of the abdominal wall, and the eye, where they control eye movement.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

Abdominal Obliques[edit | edit source]

The abdominal obliques are a group of muscles found on the sides of the abdominal wall. There are two sets of abdominal obliques: the external obliques and the internal obliques. The external obliques are located on the outer surface of the sides of the abdomen, while the internal obliques are located just inside the hip bones.

Oblique Muscles of the Eye[edit | edit source]

The oblique muscles of the eye are two muscles, the superior oblique and the inferior oblique, that control the movement of the eye. The superior oblique helps to rotate the eye downward and outward, while the inferior oblique rotates the eye upward and outward.

Function[edit | edit source]

Oblique muscles have various functions depending on their location. In the abdomen, they assist in breathing, support the contents of the abdomen, and aid in twisting and turning the body. In the eye, they control the movement of the eye.

Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]

Damage or injury to the oblique muscles can result in a range of medical conditions. For example, injury to the abdominal obliques can cause pain and limit mobility, while damage to the oblique muscles of the eye can result in double vision or other vision problems.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Oblique Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD