Absorbent articles, especially catamenials, having improved fluid directionality

An absorbent article having a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a z-direction, said absorbent article comprising:

• (a) a liquid pervious topsheet;
• (b) a liquid impervious backsheet;
• (c) an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said core having an uppermost surface facing said topsheet and a lowermost surface facing said backsheet, said uppermost surface of said core having an aperture therein;
• and
• (d) a transport layer having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion of said transport layer being positioned below the uppermost surface of said core and being oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of said absorbent article, the upper portion of said transport layer being gathered into a bun, said bun extending through said aperture in said uppermost surface of said absorbent core toward said topsheet.