Structural and functional anatomy of the abdominal wall.

Multiple options exist for managing complex abdominal wall defects. These options range from the use of autologous tissue with rearrangement procedures to the use of prosthetic or bioprosthetic materials. All options rely on a thorough understanding of the structural and functional anatomy of the abdominal wall and the relationship of varying anatomical structures to provide the optimal reconstructive procedure. A successful reconstruction is achieved when the structural anatomy is integrated with understanding the dynamic function of the abdominal wall.