Thread: Help me convince someone that the rectus abdmonis is one muscle

I was on another message board and I was trying to spread the knowlege of the rectus abdominis being one muscle and that there are no such thing as lower abs. But this one guy doesn't believe me, so please help me convince him. The conversation basically started up with me asking him to name the lower abs and he said "Why would there be a specified scientific name when professionals and highly educated men and women will understand what parts of the body you're referring to when you say "lower abs"? If you're still doubting this, go talk to a kinesthislogists or a certified personal trainer who are, most likely, the first ones to coin the term. Again, I took college A and P, I know what and where the 'rectus abdominus' is, but the LOWER muscles are WIDELY known as the 'lower abs". Thus the "lower abs" do exists because they would be the lower parts of the rectus abdominus (ie muscles below the navel)."

Here's some of our conversation:

QUOTE(CrookedCriticism @ Oct 31 2005, 7:20 PM) (ME)
1. How would there not be a scientific name for it? You know why don't you, because it's all the rectus abdomins. I know a someone who's studying kinesiology who posts on another forum and he strongly agrees that the their are no such things as lower abs. Certified personal trainer? What makes you so sure they know what they're talking about. It would really depend on their certificate and how much they actually know, they could be feeding you a bunch of bull and you wouldn't know it.

2. I was just taking about the rectus abdomins being one muscle. The obliques and the rectus abdomins are not the same muscle, that's what i'm trying to say.

Heres some stuff to read.

http://www.ironmagazine.com/modules....article&sid=42

http://exrx.net/WeightTraining/Myths.html#anchor7441959

and heres a quote to chew on...

"Do you know anything about physiology and how the human body works? If you did, then you would know that you can not shape a muscle. Rectus abdominus has an insertion point at the crest of the pubis, and three portions of unequal size into the cartilages of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs. So when the muscle contracts, it contracts as a whole. You cant contract the lower or upper more than the other."

Thats not saying you shouldnt do different exercises.. but you CANT "build your lower abs".





(HIM)
1) Here's something for you to gnaw on, it's fine with me if you don't take my word it, but please go talk to actual kinesthislogists. I'm not pulling this information out of my ass, you know? What part of "coining" a term don't you understand? It's a 'lingo' to describe the lower rectus abdominus. Whether or not you can work it is something beyond me to cover. Here, if you want to show internet sources, I can do that, too, so please check the end of this post for the 5+ sources that say otherwise—lower abs wise—about your own sources. Thanks. Oh about my Personal Trainers. Would you like me to post credentials? I can take pictures of their list of credentials, it's posted on the wall of my YMCA's Wellness Center. Though, I'd have to cross out their names, privacy reasons, you understand. Well, I guess I can go ahead and tell them what I'm doing so I can quote them with names. Whatever you'd like.

2) That's nice and all, but what you said, and I already quoted you once but here it is "the abs are one muscle". Maybe it would have been more clear had you said the rectus abdominus is one muscle. I would have agreed then with no qualms.

http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/tr...leg-raises.htm -exercises for the lower abs.
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybui...ness_tip.html- books about hitting the lower abs.
http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/rockie5.htm - "The abdominal region is composed of the upper and lower abs, as well as the obliques"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crunch_...e%29-wikipedia talks about reverse crunches work the lower abs.
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0689.htm-researchers will study the amount of activity in the upper, lower, and oblique muscles...
http://www.cbn.com/700club/Guests/Bi...062205.asp-CBN. You know, the TV station. Haha, kind of weird that they have abs exercise tips, but there they are.

Ah, this is getting old. It's fine if you don't agree. Terms are just terms to me.

theres no way in hell im reading that shit!