Crus of diaphragm

Crus of diaphragm
The diaphragm. Under surface. (Left crus and right crus are at bottom center.)
Deep and superficial dissection of the lumbar plexus. (Rt. crus of diaph. labeled vertically at center.)
Latin	crus sinistrum diaphragmatis, crus dextrum diaphragmatis
Gray's	subject #117 405

The crura of the diaphragm (singular: crus) are tendinous structures that extend inferiorly from the diaphragm to attach to the vertebral column. Forming a tether for muscular contraction, they take their name from their leg-shaped appearance (crus is Latin for leg).

Structure

At their origins the crura are tendinous in structure, and blend with the anterior longitudinal ligament of the vertebral column.

• The right crus, larger and longer than the left, arises from the anterior surfaces of the bodies and intervertebral fibrocartilages of the upper three lumbar vertebrae.
• The left crus arises from the corresponding parts of the upper two lumbar vertebrae only.

The medial tendinous margins of the crura pass anteriorly and medialward, and meet in the middle line to form an arch across the front of the aorta known as the median arcuate ligament; this arch is often poorly defined. The area behind this arch is known as the aortic hiatus.

From this series of origins the fibers of the diaphragm converge to be inserted into the central tendon.

The fibers arising from the xiphoid process are very short, and occasionally aponeurotic; those from the medial and lateral lumbocostal arches, and more especially those from the ribs and their cartilages, are longer, and describe marked curves as they ascend and converge to their insertion. The fibers of the crura diverge as they ascend, the most lateral being directed upward and lateralward to the central tendon.

The medial fibers of the right crus ascend on the left side of the esophageal hiatus, and occasionally a fasciculus of the left crus crosses the aorta and runs obliquely through the fibers of the right crus toward the vena caval foramen.

Additional images

• 

  The relations of the viscera and large vessels of the abdomen. (Seen from behind, the last thoracic vertebra being well raised.)

External links

• SUNY Figs 40:04-16 - "The abdominal surface of the diaphragm."
• left+crus+of+diaphragm at eMedicine Dictionary
• right+crus+of+diaphragm at eMedicine Dictionary

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

This anatomy article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Anatomy stubs Ligaments of the torso Thoracic diaphragm Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР? Celendín Pigeon Lake (Alberta) Look at other dictionaries: Crus — can refer to: Crus (fly) Crus (lower leg) Crus can also refer to other anatomical structures that are leg shaped: crura of antihelix crus cerebri crus of clitoris crus of diaphragm crura of heart crura of superficial inguinal ring crus of penis …   Wikipedia crus dextrum diaphragmatis — [TA] right crus of diaphragm; a fibromuscular band arising from the superior three or four lumbar vertebrae, and ascending along with the left crus, to insert into the central tendon of the diaphragm …   Medical dictionary crus sinistrum diaphragmatis — [TA] left crus of diaphragm: a fibromuscular band arising from the superior two or three lumbar vertebrae, and ascending along with the right crus, to insert into the central tendon of the diaphragm …   Medical dictionary Crus — (kr?s), n.; pl. {Crura} (kr? r?). [L., the leg.] (Anat.) (a) That part of the hind limb between the femur, or thigh, and the ankle, or tarsus; the shank. (b) Often applied, especially in the plural, to parts which are supposed to resemble a pair… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English left crus of diaphragm — c. sinistrum diaphragmatis …   Medical dictionary right crus of diaphragm — c. dextrum diaphragmatis …   Medical dictionary Thoracic diaphragm — diaphragm Respiratory system Latin diaphragma Artery Pericardiacophrenic artery …   Wikipedia crus — 1. SYN: leg. 2. Any anatomical structure resembling a leg; usually (in the plural) a pair of diverging bands or elongated masses. SEE ALSO: limb. [L.] ampullary crura of semicircular ducts SYN: ampullary membranous limbs of semicircular ducts,… …   Medical dictionary part — A portion. SYN: pars [TA]. abdominal p. of aorta SYN: abdominal aorta. abdominal p. of esophagus [TA] the portion of the esophagus from where it passes through the diaphragm to the stomach. See …   Medical dictionary Мышцы груди и живота — …   Атлас анатомии человека 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”