Hello everyone,how are you all? Hope you all are doing well.we are learninh about abdomen anatomy and we learned about basics and its layers and clinical significance.now we are going to learn about very important structure named as Diaphragm.

DIAPHRAGM

Diaphragm is a musculotendinous structure which separates thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.it helps in respiration.

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You can see in the below image i just marked with an arrow pointing diaphragm.

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The thoracic cavity has esophagus,heart and few nerves and arteries and they have to pass through diaphragm to enter into abdominal cavity.so, as the diaphragm has openings for these structures to pass through it.these are major openings and minor openings.

MAJOR OPENINGS

There are 3 major openings in the diaphragm

1)Vena caval opening at T8 level

2)Oesphageal opening at T10 level

3)Aortic opening at T12 level

Structures passing through major openings are -

Major openings	Structures passing through openings
Vena caval opening	Inferior vena cava, right phrenic nerve
Oesophageal opening	Oesophagus, Vagus nerve, Oesophageal branch of left gastric artery
Aprtic opening	Aorta, Thoracic duct, Azygous vein

You can see in the below image the major openings and the structures passing through it.

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Nerve supply
The diaphragm is primarily innervated by the phrenic nerve which is formed from the cervical nerves C3, C4 and C5.

Below is link of a small video of diaphragm movement during breathing

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Real-time_MRI_-_Thorax.ogv

Clinical significance

HIATUS HERNIA

A hiatal hernia or hiatus hernia is a type of hernia in which abdominal organs (typically the stomach) slip through the diaphragm into the middle compartment of the chest.it results into GERD.

We learned that oesophagus pass through one of the major opening which is oesophageal opening.

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Below is link of video of hiatus hernia.watch it for better understanding.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hernia_de_hiato.ogv

Types of hiatus hernia

A: Normal anatomy
B: Pre-stage
C: Sliding hiatus hernia
D: Paraesophageal hiatus

Types of hiatus hernia

Type 1 hiatus hernia

CONGENITAL DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect of the diaphragm. The most common type of CDH is a Bochdalek hernia and other type is morgagni type

Morgagni type

it is characterized by herniation through the foramina of Morgagni(anterior defect) which are located immediately adjacent and posterior to the xiphoid process of the sternu.

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Bochdalek type

Its is most common type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.most common on posterolateral side.

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REFERENCES

• Grays's Anatomy:The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice,41st Edition page no 899,972,973,980

• SRB Manual of surgery,6th edition Page no 799

This is all about diaphragm and its openings and its clinical significance.hope you understood very well.please go through my previous posts.if you have any doubts please ask.

Thanks for reading,

With regards,