Vol 67, No 3 (2008)
Review article
Published online: 2008-06-02
A review of the distribution of the arterial and venous vasculature of the diaphragm and its clinical relevance
DOI: 10.5603/fm.v67i3.15966
Folia Morphol 2008;67(3):159-165.
Abstract
The diaphragm is the major respiratory muscle of the body. As it plays such
a vital role, a continuous arterial and venous blood supply is of the utmost
importance. It is therefore not surprising to find described in the literature
a complex system of anastomoses that contributes to the maintenance of this
muscle’s life-preserving contraction. Understanding the anatomy of the diaphragm
and any divergence in its vasculature is literally vital to humanity. In
the light of this, we review the literature on the blood supply to the diaphragm,
with specific emphasis on the recent description of the inferior phrenic vessels
and the superior phrenic artery, summarize the clinical significance of the diaphragmatic
vasculature and suggest future avenues of study to further expand
on this current body of knowledge.
Keywords: diaphragmhepatocellular carcinomainferior phrenic arterysuperior phrenic artery
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