Base-Line Healing


The Linea Alba.

(lin-ee-a  al-ba)

human body seen from the front. The linea alba lying on midline at the front of the abdomen from pelvis to chest. Starting at the pubic symphysis of the pelvis - the bone between the legs, extending to the bottom of the rib cage - the xiphoid process of the sternum. The navel lies on the linea alba and should be able to align with the top and bottom points of the linea alba i.e. the linea alba is fully extendable.

Linea alba means "white line" in Latin.

The linea alba is tough connective tissue, a strip on the body's midline from pelvis to chest at the front of the abdomen.

Attaching to the pubic symphysis of the pelvis and xiphoid process of the sternum (breastbone).

The navel (belly button) lies on the linea alba.

As the left and right lateral abdominal muscles wrap around the abdomen they turn into sheets of tough connective tissue (known as aponeuroses) towards the front.

human figure from front showing the lateral abdominal muscles turning into sheets of connective tissue (called aponeuroses) as they come around the front of the abdomen and join the linea alba on midline. Some of the aponeuroses are cut away to show the layers and the way the rectus abdominis muscles sit within a sheath created by the layers of connective tissue.

The linea alba is created by these connective tissue layers merging midline at the front of the abdominal wall.

Before these aponeuroses meet midline they form a sheath (a tunnel between the layers) on either side. Within these sheaths lie the rectus abdominis muscles (like ribbons in a tunnel).

The rectus abdominis muscles are the closest muscles to the linea alba, lying either side the full length of the linea alba.

The linea alba is our primary guide for body alignment, connecting 3 of the 5 midline markers.

Feeling the relative positioning of our midline anatomy allows us to start to feel our true state of body alignment and balance and work towards improving it.

skeleton showing the linea alba and rectus abdominis muscles running up either side. The rectus abdominis and linea alba start at the pubic symphysis between the legs. The rectus abdominis muscle made up of panels of muscles, like two stacks of blocks either side of the  linea alba, to be activated and elongated in sequence to align the linea alba and associated midline markers.

The linea alba should be fully flexable and extendable, free to bend and rotate in all directions. This comes with a full range of natural movement and an unrestricted body.

seen from side angle. The linea alba between the rectus abdominis muscles, midline from the pubic symphysis of the pelvis to the xiphoid process of the sternum. The navel is situated on the linea alba. The aponeuroses of the lateral abdominal muscles merge to form the rectus sheath enclosing the rectus abdominis muscles before meeting in the middle to form the linea alba.

The Base-Line muscles are key to feeling the positioning of the linea alba.

The pelvic floor muscles at the Base of the linea alba and the rectus abdominis muscles either side of our central Line.

Find your Base-Line.

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footer base-line-healing copyright Leigh Blyth