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The interactive dog atlas · Muscles · Trunk

External abdominal oblique musculus obliquus externus abdominis

The external oblique is the muscle of the lateral wall of the abdomen, from the last ribs to the midline of the belly. Its fibers run obliquely downward and backward.

Open in the interactive atlas Guide: Muscles Worksheet

Educational material, not a diagnostic tool. Written by the Mantrailing România team from veterinary sources we read. Updated 14.11.2026.

Dog in left lateral view — exterior, muscles, skeleton and organs Vector study after the Ellenberger, Baum and Dittrich plates: a standing dog, head to the left, deep chest and digitigrade limbs. The four layers use the same contour: exterior with body regions, superficial muscles, skeleton and organs.
External abdominal oblique on the atlas drawing, "Muscles" layer. Left lateral view, after the Ellenberger, Baum and Dittrich plates.

Where it is

The lateral wall of the abdomen, from the last ribs to the linea alba.

Layer
Muscles
System
Muscles
Region
Trunk

What it is and what it does

Its fibers arise from the caudal ribs and the thoracolumbar fascia and run obliquely downward and backward, to an aponeurosis attached to the linea alba. It compresses the abdominal viscera (the “abdominal press”), which helps with expiration, and supports the abdominal wall.

Worth remembering

It presses on the organs in the abdomen, which helps with expiration, and supports the wall of the belly.

Names

  • Latin term: musculus obliquus externus abdominis.
  • In Romanian: Oblicul extern abdominal (Romanian page).

Guides it appears in

From the same region: Trunk

All structures, in the atlas · Flashcards: muscles