This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Apertures

Authoring team

This section includes any of the structures which traverse the diaphragm:

  • major openings:
    • vena caval foramen
    • aortic aperture
    • oesophageal aperture
  • minor openings:
    • hemiazygous vein; through the left crus
    • phrenic nerves:
      • left phrenic nerve through the muscular left dome lateral to the fibrous pericardium
      • right phrenic nerve through the tendinous vena caval aperture
    • splanchnic nerves; through the crura
  • lower 5 to 6 intercostal nerves and vessels; pass anteroinferiorly through seperate pairs of fibres of the diaphragm posterior to the lower costal cartilages
    • musculophrenic vessels; through the fibres originating from the 7th and 8th costal cartilages
    • subcostal nerves and vessels; pass posterolateral to medial arcuate ligaments
    • sympathetic trunks; posterior to medial arcuate ligaments immediately lateral to the T12 vertebral body
    • superior epigastric vessels; traverse the sternocostal hiatus
    • minor lymphatics; ascend after diffusely traversing the diaphragm to nodes on its superior surface

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.