medial arcuate ligament

Last reviewed 01/2018

The medial arcuate ligament is one portion of the arcuate ligaments of the diaphragm. It is formed from a thickening of the fascia overlying the psoas major muscle.

It originates from the inferoanterior surface of the body of the L1 vertebra and the lateral extension of this onto the transverse process of L1. Psoas major lies deeply. Fibres extend anterosuperiorly to insert into the central diaphragmatic tendon.