The abdominal muscles and the muscles of the lower back help protect the vital organs of the body. For instance, bones do not protect the abdominal cavity like the rib cage protects the heart and the lungs. The rectus abdominus, or “six pack” muscle, the obliques found at the sides of the torso and the transverse abdominus running side to side across the front of the abdominal cavity protect the organs from the front and sides. Similarly, the lats, quadrates lumborum and the psoas muscles, which run from the bottom area of the ribs to the pelvic bones protect the organs from the back of the abdominal cavity.