Anatomical localization of the umbilicus: an Indian study

The umbilicus is essential to the aesthetic appearance of the abdomen. However, very little has been written about the exact location of the aesthetically pleasing umbilicus as far as the Indian cosmopolitan population is concerned. Although a variety of reconstructive methods are available, no real standards define the location of the umbilicus.

In this study, 75 cosmopolitan female volunteers were evaluated in supine position, and the distance of the umbilicus (from central stalk) to fixed bony points over the anterior abdominal wall was measured. These linear measurements were subjected to standard statistical methods.

In this study, the authors observed that the umbilicus is situated around the midline plane such that the ratio of the distance between the xiphisternum and the umbilicus and the distance between the pubic symphysis and the umbilicus is 1.6:1; also, the ratio of the distance between the umbilicus and anterior superior iliac spine and the inter-anterior superior iliac spine is approximately 0.6:1.

During umbilicoplasty, when each anterior superior iliac spine is taken as a center, and arcs are drawn with a radius 0.6 times that of the inter-anterior superior iliac spine distance, the point of intersection of these arcs is the approximate location of the umbilicus around the midline plane, which should match the ratio of 1.6:1 (i.e., the ratio of the distance from the umbilicus to the xiphisternum and the distance from umbilicus to the pubic symphysis). An effort is made to find and establish the body proportions and symmetry and to determine the critical ratios so as to help the reconstructive surgeon to plan an aesthetically pleasing umbilicus.