An elongated absorbent article was issued a patent. The item includes a liquid-permeable topsheet appearing on a skin surface; a backsheet appearing on a garment surface; and a liquid absorbent layer between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent article has a compressed groove where the skin surface is recessed toward the garment surface with the liquid absorbent layer compressed together with the topsheet. The compressed groove includes rear inner compressed grooves in a rear half of the absorbent article that extend symmetrically about a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article. A rear central region has a rear compressed groove connecting rear ends of the rear inner compressed grooves. This makes up a rear end of the rear central region. The liquid absorbent layer is recessed in the rear central region from the side of the garment surface toward the skin surface. A backside compressed portion extends along the longitudinal centerline, the backside compressed portion has a rear end positioned forward of the rear connecting compressed groove. The rear outer compressed grooves are located laterally outside the rear inner compressed grooves to extend longitudinally down the absorbent article. The density of the liquid absorbent layer is higher in regions positioned between the rear inner compressed grooves and the rear outer compressed grooves than in the rear central region.