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Diaphragm

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Head, Thoracic, Abdominal, and Vascular Injuries

Part of the book series: European Manual of Medicine ((EUROMANUAL))

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Abstract

The diaphragm forms the dome-shaped, partly muscular and partly fibrous separation between the thorax and the abdomen. Because of this particular shape it raises higher than generally expected, up to the fifth inter-costal space. It attaches to the front side of the thorax and ribs, approximately at nipple level and dorsally also to the ribs, however at a lower level, whereas the crurae attach to the corpora of the first to third lumbar vertebral body. The muscular crurae form the portals of inferior vena cava (level Th8), aortic (level Th12), and esophageal (level Th10) structures. It is innervated on both sides individually by the phrenic nerves originating from C3 to C5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University Medical Center, Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Luke P. H. Leenen

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  1. Luke P. H. Leenen
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Correspondence to Luke P. H. Leenen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Unfall- und, Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Allgemeines Krankenhaus Celle, Siemensplatz 4, Celle, 29223, Germany

    Hans-Jörg Oestern

  2. Forschungsabteilung Chirurgie, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Rämistr. 100, Zürich, 8091, Switzerland

    Otmar Lorenz Trentz

  3. Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 15, Graz, 8036, Austria

    Selman Uranues

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© 2011 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

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Leenen, L.P.H. (2011). Diaphragm. In: Oestern, HJ., Trentz, O., Uranues, S. (eds) Head, Thoracic, Abdominal, and Vascular Injuries. European Manual of Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88122-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88122-3_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-88121-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-88122-3

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