Visible Human, Coronal Section/Anterior Thorax

You selected: diaphragm

The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration. It forms a dome which separates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen. The muscle attaches to the base of the pleural membranes which surround the lungs. When it contracts it pulls the lungs "down" allowing them to fill with air.

The muscle is innervated by the phrenic nerve which originates from the 3-5th cervical ganglia of the spinal cord ("C3-4-5 keeps the diaphargm alive"). The muscles is under both voluntary and involuntary control.

Key points in this image
lung | left ventricle | right ventricle | diaphragm | stomach | liver | pectoralis major |
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Information
Module Name: a_vmY1649
Module Title: Visible Human, Coronal Section/Anterior Thorax
Image Info: Computer generated from gross transverse sections.
Created by: Lynn Bry
Contact Email:bryl@medicine.wustl.edu
Last modified: Feb 7th, 1997
Created with Annotation 1.0