diaphragm muscle

Function

• it is the main muscle of inspiration in normal individuals

Structure

• continuous sheet of muscle & tendon, normally broken uponly by major structures (i.e. esophagus, inferior vena cava, aorta) passing from thorax to abdomen

Innervation

• motor:
  • phrenic nerves (C3-C5)
  • right & left halves innervated by right & left phrenic nerves
• sensory
  • phrenic nerves
  • lower intercostal nerves

Pathology

pain from the diaphragm may radiate to the shoulder

Physiology

• normal expiratory to inspiratory excursion of the diaphragm is 5-7 cm.
• diaphragm muscle only partially effective in supine or sitting position diaphragm muscle flattens with aging & becomes less efficient

More general terms

• skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle)
• musculoskeletal system structure

More specific terms

• crura of diaphragm (crus)
• diaphragmatic surface of (lung/liver/spleen/heart)
• hemidiaphragm
• lumbocostal triangle of diaphragm (vertebrocostal trigone or triangle, Bochdalek gap)
• muscular part of diaphragm
• sternocostal triangle of diaphragm (sternocostal foramen)

Additional terms

• diaphragmatic calcification
• diaphragmatic paralysis

Component of

• thorax

Components

• central tendon of diaphragm (trefoil tendon)
• median arcuate ligament
• esophageal hiatus (aperture or opening)
• pleuroperitoneal hiatus (Bochdalek foramen)
• aortic hiatus/foramen/aperture/opening
• vena caval foramen (caval opening of diaphragm, caval foramen)