Abs 101

Picture this: Two guys are strolling the beach, checking out the bikinis, both of them regular gym-goers. One has 18" arms, a billowing chest and... a baby-smooth midsection. The other guy's arms barely stretch the tape to 16" and his chest, while defined, doesn't cast nearly the shadow as his buddy's. But from pec to pelvis this guy has a crisp six-pack, edged with a clearly defined pair of obliques and some nice serratus action going on.

Now, which guy's physique do you think is going to draw more attention from admiring eyes? To paraphrase ZZ-Top: Girls go crazy for a sharp-abbed man.

With this ab primer and 3-part workout at your disposal, you'll have a better understanding of your own ab anatomy and have the tools to develop an impressive six pack of your own, not to mention grab the attention of the fairer sex.

AB ANATOMY

Before delving into the routine that will turn abs of dough into abs of steel we should provide a refresher course in the anatomy of the muscle groups which together we commonly refer to as the abs. 

MUSCLES YOU CAN SEE

Rectus Abdominis

This is the ol' six pack; the muscle group that turns heads, of both interested ladies and envious guys. The rectus abdominus originates at the bottom of the sternum and inserts at the pelvis and is responsible for pulling your knees up to your torso and vice versa. It's important to keep in mind that when we talk about training the upper and lower abs keep in mind it's all part of the same muscle group, just different ends of it.

External Obliques

The external obliques run diagonally down the sides of your body, between your rectus abdominus and lats. They're the ones that give the torso that detailed look that indicates a well-conditioned athlete or contest-ready bodybuilder. The function of the external obliques is to twist the body from side to side and therefore are utilized every day throughout the day, not to mention during every exercise that requires lateral stabilization.

Serratus

These are the fingerlike muscles you find running from your lats to the sides of your ribcage. Because of their positioning and connections they need to be trained differently from the other muscle groups of the abdominal region.

MUSCLES YOU CAN'T SEE

Transverse Abdominis- The transverse abdominus lies directly below the rectus abdominus and while it's invisible to the eye, training it will pay off big dividends for those looking for a slimmer waistline. Think of the muscle as a girdle that covers the front of your lower torso, keeping organs from distending out past your ribcage. Having control of your transverse abdominus can make a marked difference in the appearance of your midsection.

Internal Obliques

Lying below the external obliques are the internal obliques which, while not visible without a scalpel (ouch), serve a similar purpose to the external obliques. They actually run in the opposite direction of the externals to provide a powerful set of torso muscles that can torque the body left and right with great force and precision. There isn't a sport, from hockey to baseball to golf, that doesn't employ the internal obliques extensively.

Intercostals

These muscles actually run beneath and between the ribs and aid in inspiration and respiration.