Generally thin, flexible, sanitary napkin with central absorbent hump

An extensible sanitary napkin having a principal longitudinal centerline, a principal transverse centerline, a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal central region disposed along the length of at least a portion of said principal longitudinal centerline, surrounding absorbent regions located outboard of said longitudinal central region, at least some portions of said surrounding regions having a caliper of less than or equal to about 5 millimeters, said sanitary napkin comprising:

• an extensible liquid pervious topsheet;
• an extensible liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
• an absorbent material positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
• and
• a longitudinal medial hump on said body surface in said longitudinal central region of said sanitary napkin, said hump having a point of maximum amplitude and a caliper measured at its point of maximum amplitude that is greater than about 3 millimeters and at least about 2.0 times the caliper of said portions of said surrounding regions
• wherein said longitudinal central region has a flexure-resistance that is greater than the flexure-resistance of said portions of said surrounding regions, and the flexure-resistance of said longitudinal central region is up to about 1,000 grams, and the flexure-resistance of said portions of said surrounding regions is less than or equal to about 700 grams.

A sanitary napkin having a principal longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, a body surface, a garment surface, a longitudinal central region disposed along the length of at least a portion of said principal longitudinal centerline, and surrounding regions at least laterally outboard of said longitudinal central region, said sanitary napkin comprising:

• a liquid pervious topsheet;
• a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet;
• an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet;
• a longitudinal medial hump on said body surface in said longitudinal central region of said sanitary napkin;
• said core being joined to said backsheet along at least two longitudinal junctures, the remainder of said core, including at least one end edge being unattached to said backsheet so that said unattached portion of said core may move apart and separate from said backsheet.