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Structure of diaphragm shown using a 3D medical animation still shot. The thoracic diaphragm, or simply the diaphragm (/ ˈ d aɪ ə f r æ m /; [1] Ancient Greek: διάφραγμα, romanized: diáphragma, lit. 'partition'), is a sheet of internal skeletal muscle [2] in humans and other mammals that extends across the bottom of the thoracic ...
The right phrenic nerve passes over the brachiocephalic artery, posterior to the subclavian vein, and then crosses the root of the right lung anteriorly and then leaves the thorax by passing through the vena cava hiatus opening in the diaphragm at the level of T8. The right phrenic nerve passes over the right atrium.
The aorta is situated on the left, the thoracic duct in the middle, and the azygos vein on the right. [1]: 185 The hemiazygos vein may pass through the aortic hiatus [2] or may pass through the diaphragm independently through its own foramen in the left crus.
It is inferior to the fibrous pericardium, which fuses with the central tendon of the diaphragm via the pericardiacophrenic ligament. The caval opening (at the level of the T8 vertebra) passes through the central tendon. This transmits the inferior vena cava [1] and right phrenic nerve.
The caval opening of diaphragm [2] (also foramen of vena cava, [1] vena caval foramen [3] [1]) is an opening in the central tendon of diaphragm giving passage to the inferior vena cava [2] [3] as well as to some terminal [2] branches of [2] [1] the right phrenic nerve, [2] [3] and some lymphatic vessels en route to middle phrenic and mediastinal lymph nodes. [2]
The esophagus is continuous with the laryngopharynx. It passes through the posterior mediastinum in the thorax and enters the stomach through a hole in the thoracic diaphragm—the esophageal hiatus, at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra (T10). Its length averages 25 cm, varying with an individual's height.
The esophageal hiatus is an oval opening [1] in (sources differ) the right crus of the diaphragm [1] /left crus of the diaphragm, with fibres of the right crus looping around the hiatus to form a sling (upon inspiration, this sling would constrict the esophagus, forming a functional (not anatomical) sphincter that prevents gastric contents from refluxing up the esophagus when intra-abdominal ...
The diaphragm is also involved in non-respiratory functions, helping to expel vomit, faeces, and urine from the body by increasing intra-abdominal pressure, and preventing acid reflux by exerting pressure on the esophagus as it passes through the esophageal hiatus.