Table 1.

The classification of ultrasound-guided TAP blocks and the corresponding supplied areas.

Approach	The main segmental thoracolumbar nerves [15]		Supplied area [15]
Subcostal [39–41]	T6-9	Anterior cutaneous branches	Upper abdomen just below the xiphoid and parallel to the costal margin
Lateral [10, 26]	T10-12	Anterior cutaneous branches	Anterior abdominal wall at the infraumbilical area, from midline to midclavicular line
Posterior [10, 42]	T9-12	Anterior cutaneous branches (possibly lateral cutaneous branches)	Anterior abdominal wall at the infraumbilical area and possibly lateral abdominal wall between costal margin and iliac crest
Oblique subcostal [11, 13, 15, 17, 43]	T6-L1	Anterior cutaneous branches	Upper and lower abdomen

TAP: transversus abdominis plane.