SIX-PACK SCIENCE

All you need to know about your abs

The six-pack is the rectus abdominus, a paired muscle that runs vertically on each side of the abdomen, separated in the middle by a band of connective tissue called the linea alba, or white line. This line, and those that run horizontally across the muscle, create the six distinct parts of a six-pack.

It’s an important postural muscle responsible for flexing your spine forwards. It also assists with breathing, stabilises the torso during exercise and protects your internal organs from impact.

Everyone has a six-pack, but most people can’t see theirs for one simple reason: it’s hidden under a layer of fat.