Aortic hiatus
Encyclopedia
The aortic hiatus is a hole in the human diaphragm. It is the lowest and most posterior of the large apertures.
It is located approximately at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12).
opening between it and the vertebral column
, and therefore behind the diaphragm (Meaning that diaphragmatic contractions do not directly influence the Aorta or aortic supply).
Occasionally some tendinous fibers prolonged across the bodies of the vertebræ from the medial parts of the inferior ends of the crura pass posterior to the aorta, and thus convert the hiatus into a fibrous ring.
The hiatus is situated slightly to the left of the mid line, and is bound anteriorly by the crura, and posteriorly by the body of the first lumbar vertebra.
, the azygos vein
, and the thoracic duct
; occasionally the azygos vein
and hemi-azygos vein passes through the right crus.
It is located approximately at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12).
Structure
Strictly speaking, it is not an aperture in the diaphragm but an osseoaponeuroticOsseoaponeurotic
Osseoaponeurotic comes from the Latin osseus meaning bone, and Greek apo and neuron literally translated as "the end of the muscle where it becomes tendon". Osseoaponeurotic is an adjective referring to an object composed of bone and aponeurosis....
opening between it and the vertebral column
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
, and therefore behind the diaphragm (Meaning that diaphragmatic contractions do not directly influence the Aorta or aortic supply).
Occasionally some tendinous fibers prolonged across the bodies of the vertebræ from the medial parts of the inferior ends of the crura pass posterior to the aorta, and thus convert the hiatus into a fibrous ring.
The hiatus is situated slightly to the left of the mid line, and is bound anteriorly by the crura, and posteriorly by the body of the first lumbar vertebra.
Structures passing through
Through it passes the aortaAorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
, the azygos vein
Azygos vein
The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column. It can also provide an alternate path for blood to the right atrium by allowing the blood to flow between the venae cavae when one vena cava is blocked.-Structure:...
, and the thoracic duct
Thoracic duct
In human anatomy, the thoracic duct of the lymphatic system is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body. It is also known as the left lymphatic duct, alimentary duct, chyliferous duct, and Van Hoorne's canal....
; occasionally the azygos vein
Azygos vein
The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column. It can also provide an alternate path for blood to the right atrium by allowing the blood to flow between the venae cavae when one vena cava is blocked.-Structure:...
and hemi-azygos vein passes through the right crus.