The oblique muscles are located on the sides of your abdomen, over the ribcage. There are two main types: the external oblique and the internal oblique.
- External oblique muscle : This is the largest and outermost abdominal muscle, situated on the lateral and anterior parts of the abdomen. It extends from the lower eight ribs (ribs 5-12) down to the pelvis, attaching to the iliac crest and pubic bone. It lies just beneath the skin and subcutaneous fat on the sides of the abdomen
- Internal oblique muscle : This muscle lies just underneath the external oblique, forming part of the anterolateral abdominal wall. It is located below the rectus abdominis and inside the hip bones. The internal oblique originates from the lumbar fascia, inguinal ligament, and iliac crest, and its fibers run diagonally, opposite to those of the external oblique
Together, these oblique muscles allow movements such as bending sideways, twisting the torso, and flexing the trunk. The external oblique is more superficial, while the internal oblique is deeper, both covering the sides of the abdomen over the ribcage
