𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲 𝟮
Today we present the fourth lecture on medicine, written by Professor Gaeta. Enjoy your reading!
"There are a number of openings in the diaphragm that allow different structures to move from the chest to the abdomen or vice versa.
The 3 main orifices that we consider are that of the inferior vena cava and the aortic hiatus, which we have already described in the previous post, and the esophageal hiatus, which we are now going to expose, inviting you to follow the explanation by carefully observing the corresponding figure.
The 2 tendon pillars that inserted at the 2 left and right sides of the lumbar spine had already crossed a first time delimiting with the column itself the osteotendinous hiatus called the aortic hiatus, which we have seen to be very little deformable.
The 2 pillars just after crossing, divaricate going up the posterior side of the diaphragmatic dome and enriching themselves with muscle fibers to cross again soon after a second time.
Basically, the 2 intersections draw a kind of figure 8 and are found to demarcate 2 orifices or hiatuses: a postero inferior hiatus called the aortic hiatus and an antero superior hiatus called the esophageal hiatus, which is the opening through which the esophagus and vagus nerves pass from the chest to the abdomen.
The esophagus in its passage through this hiatus presents a clearly visible narrowing of its diameter.
Past the diaphragm then already inside the abdominal cavity it ends immediately with the cardia or lower esophageal sphincter.
This small anatomical region that we are describing consisting of the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm, diaphragmatic narrowing of the esophagus, and the cardia, the portion of the fundus of the stomach that immediately follows the cardia, is that area that, with the passage of years, can undergo anatomofunctional changes that configure the pathological picture that goes by the name of hiatal hernia.
In addition, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles prevent and improve back pain vertebral slippage and lumbar lordosis.
We then learn to breathe with the diaphragm:
-
Lie supine, with your belly facing upward, and focus your attention on your belly.
-
To feel your diaphragm put one hand on your belly and one on your chest, and start breathing, the goal is to have the hand resting on your belly rise while the one placed on your chest should remain still.
-
Breathe in through your nose and watch your belly fill with air, then slowly exhale through your mouth.
-
The hand on the chest is to make sure that the chest does not rise, and if you notice that the hand rises, it means that you are not taking advantage of the diaphragm.
-
When you exhale, open your mouth and let the air out passively, without contracting your abdominal muscles or arching your back.
-
Again, the hand on the chest must remain still.
Breathing properly with the diaphragm requires practice, and if you learn to exhale through your mouth it can be helpful when you are anxious to relieve tension. "
𝚋𝚢 𝙴𝚕𝚒𝚘 𝙶𝚊𝚎𝚝𝚊
