In gross anatomy, the diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration and the musculotendinous partition separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities, with peripheral attachments (xiphoid, costal, and lumbar parts) mirroring the borders of the inferior thoracic aperture and centrally converging fibers meeting at the central tendon. Contraction of the diaphragm draws it inferiorly, increasing thoracic volume and decreasing intrathoracic pressure to drive lung expansion, while three defined openings (caval, esophageal, and aortic hiatuses) permit passage of structures between the thorax and abdomen, and the phrenic nerves provide its motor and much of its sensory innervation.
In gross anatomy, the diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration and the musculotendinous partition separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities, with peripheral attachments (xiphoid, costal, a…