Pyramidalis Muscle: Overview

Abstract

According to free encyclopedia, there are approximately 640 skeletal muscles within the typical human and these muscles are classified based on regions with pyramidalis belonging to the trunk. Although the pyramidalis muscle is typically described to lie between the anterior surface of the rectus abdominus and the posterior  surface of the rectus sheath, it is a small triangular shaped muscle with the wider inferior margin of the muscle attaches to the pubic symphysis  and pubic  crest, where as its narrow superior margin attaches  to the linea alba. The muscle was described by Massa N who assumed that it assist in the erection of the penis. Pyramidalis muscle is present on one or both sides of the body in 82.6% of cases, more frequently absent in the female than in the male with no relationship between size of the individual and size of the pyramidalis muscle and the muscle is absent in 20% of normal human. Although the muscle acts as a tensor of the linea alba thereby assisting in increasing the intra-abdominal  pressure as well as locally compressing the bladder,Clinically it also play a vital role in the marshal- Marchetti operation for Urinary incontrience and also provide flap for the treatment of small recalcitrant wounds in the foot and ankle region.