The linea alba is a fibrous structure that runs down the midline of the abdomen in humans and other vertebrates. The name means white line and the linea alba is indeed white, being composed mostly of shiny white collagen connective tissue.
It is formed by the fusion of the aponeuroses of the abdominal muscles, and it separates the left and right rectus abdominis muscles. In muscular individuals its presence can be seen on the skin, forming the depression between the left and right halves of a "six pack."
Because it consists of only connective tissue, and doesn't contain important nerves or blood vessels, a median incision through the linea alba is a common surgical approach.
In dentistry
Linea alba is also a term used in dentistry to describe a fibrous, light-coloured protusion of skin along the jaw line in the mouth. It is caused by pressure from the teeth, or from chewing cheeks (i.e. out of stress). The line is almost always at tooth level.
External links
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linea_alba under GFDL
