In surgery, the shelving is the fascia between the inguinal ligaments and above the pubic symphysis. It is the natural extension of the transversalis fascia. It is rarely incised, but a surgeon working in the belly will often park a handy instrument or two there, reducing the constant back-and-forth of tools with the scrub tech.
In the literature, hernia repairs commonly include mention of suturing to the "shelving edge of the inguinal ligament".