insertion

Last reviewed 01/2018

The muscle fibres of the multiple origins of the diaphragm converge on a strong central tendon that is mobile but has no bony attachments:

• classically stated as trefoil, indicating 3 portions, in shape when looked at from above: the right section is larger than the anterior section which is in turn larger than the left section
• vertical position of the tendon within the thorax varies according to the state of muscular contraction
• merges with the fibrous pericardium on its superior surface
• junction of anterior and right leaves is the site of the aperture of the inferior vena cava