muscular part of diaphragm

Structure

the muscular part is situated peripherally with fibers that converge radially on the central tendon.

• forms a continuous sheet; however for descriptive purposes divided into 3 parts:
• Sternal part:
  • consists of 2 muscular slips that attach to the posterior aspect of the xiphoid process: this part is not always present.
• Costal part:
  • consists of wide muscular slips that attach to the internal surfaces of the inferior 6 costal cartilages & their adjoining ribs on each side; the costal part forms the right & left domes.
• Lumbar part:
  • arise from 2 aponeurtic arches - the medial arcuate ligament, the lateral arcuate ligament & the 3 superior lumbar vertebrae
  • forms right & left muscular crura of diaphragm that ascends to the central tendon

More general terms

• diaphragm muscle