apertures
Last reviewed 01/2018
This section includes any of the structures which traverse the diaphragm:
- major openings:
- vena caval foramen
- aortic aperture
- oesophageal aperture
- minor openings:
- hemiazygous vein; through the left crus
- phrenic nerves:
- left phrenic nerve through the muscular left dome lateral to the fibrous pericardium
- right phrenic nerve through the tendinous vena caval aperture
- splanchnic nerves; through the crura
- lower 5 to 6 intercostal nerves and vessels; pass anteroinferiorly through seperate pairs of fibres of the diaphragm posterior to the lower costal cartilages
- musculophrenic vessels; through the fibres originating from the 7th and 8th costal cartilages
- subcostal nerves and vessels; pass posterolateral to medial arcuate ligaments
- sympathetic trunks; posterior to medial arcuate ligaments immediately lateral to the T12 vertebral body
- superior epigastric vessels; traverse the sternocostal hiatus
- minor lymphatics; ascend after diffusely traversing the diaphragm to nodes on its superior surface