Why this particular muscle would spasm I have no idea, but in recent years I have also experienced periodic nocturnal spasms of both my calf muscles (gastrocnemius), too. So it seems it may be due to some intrinsic muscle disease that for whatever reason only shows up in adulthood.
Anyway, as with all weird symptoms, this one needs a name and I have decided to call this one an abdominal heart attack. Since that first one, it has continued to occur several times a year.