The first step in working towards toning your stomach is understanding the human anatomy and different muscle groups associated with your abdomen. The human abdomen (from the Latin word meaning "belly") is the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax . Spending time understanding the different parts of your abdomen will help you in achieving the most effective results.
The muscle group most commonly referred to as the abs is composed of four separate muscles - the rectus abdominis, the internal and external obliques, and the transverse abdominis. They support and assist in moving the torso through various motions, including flexion and rotation.
The Abdominal muscles sit on the front and sides of the lower half of the torso, originating along the rib cage and attaching along the pelvis and are composed of several muscles: the Rectus Abdominus, Transverse Abdominus, and the External and Internal Obliques.
. Rectus Abdominus - Flex the spine (bringing the rib cage closer to the pelvis). This is seen in the abdominal crunching movement.
. Transverse Abdominus - Acts as a natural
weight belt, keeping your insides in! This muscle is essential for
trunk stability.
. Internal and External Obliques - Work to rotate
the torso and stabilize the abdomen.
Abdominal crunches simply won't exercise all these muscle groups at once, so a number of different techniques are advisable in order to develop your abs in the best way possible. Our site has articles containing information on a number of upper and lower effective abdominal exercises.