Your abdominal muscles are made up of four different muscles.
For the ultimate abdominal workout, make sure the abdominal exercises you choose encompass all four muscles.
The outer layer of your abdominals is formed by the rectus abdominus, which most people know as the ‘six pack’.
The next two layers of abdominal muscles are the internal obliques and external obliques.
The inner most layer of abdominal muscle is called transversus abdominus. This muscle is very important in protecting your back from injury and is often referred to as your ‘core’. It wraps around the spine and abdominal cavity to create an inward pressure similar to that of a corset. Think of it as the body’s natural back brace.
Try the abdominal exercises below to help you to isolate the different abdominal muscles during your work out.
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Reverse Crunch
Target Muscle: Rectus Abdominus.
Reverse Crunch – Start Position 
Reverse Crunch – Finish Position Find out how to do the Reverse Crunch abdominal exercise to build your ‘six-pack’.
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The Bicycle
Target Muscle: Internal Obliques and External Obliques.
Bicycle – Start Position 
Bicycle – Position 1 Bicycle – Start Position 
Bicycle – Position 2 Learn how to do The Bicycle abdominal exercise, one of the best floor exercises you can do at home.
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Side Crunch
Target Muscle: Internal and External Obliques.
Side Crunch – Start Position 
Side Crunch – Finish Position See how to execute the Side Crunch abdominal exercise on the floor at home.
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The Hundred
Target Muscle: Rectus Abdominus and Transversus Abdominus.
The Hundred – Start Position 
The Hundred – Position 2 Read how The Hundred is performed to tone your ‘six pack’ and core at the same time; one of the best abdominal exercises you can do at home.
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The Bird Dog
Target Muscle: Transversus Abdominus.
The Bird Dog – Start Position 
The Bird Dog – Position 1 The Bird Dog – Start Position 
The Bird Dog – Position 2 Read how to do The Bird Dog abdominal exercise for a stronger ‘core’.
Disclaimer & Warning
These exercises are a guide to help with understanding the different components of the abdominal muscles and also how to target the different muscles through specific exercises.