๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ด๐บ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ
โ
Today we present the fourth medical lesson, written by Professor Gaeta. Happy reading!
โ
"There are several openings in the diaphragm that allow various structures to pass from the thorax to the abdomen or vice versa.
โ
The 3 main orifices we take into consideration are that of the inferior vena cava and the aortic hiatus, which we already described in the previous post, and the esophageal hiatus, which we are now about to explain, inviting you to follow the explanation by carefully observing the corresponding figure.
โ
The 2 tendinous crura that inserted on the right and left sides of the lumbar spine had already crossed once, delimiting with the spine itself the osteotendinous hiatus known as the aortic hiatus, which we saw is very minimally deformable.
โ
The 2 crura, just after crossing, diverge while ascending on the posterior side of the diaphragmatic dome, becoming enriched with muscle fibers to cross again immediately after a second time.
โ
In practice, the 2 crossings draw a sort of number 8 and serve to delimit 2 orifices or hiatuses: one postero-inferior hiatus, precisely called the aortic hiatus, and one antero-superior one called the esophageal hiatus, which constitutes the opening through which the esophagus and vagus nerves pass from the thorax to the abdomen.
โ
The esophagus, in its passage through this hiatus, presents a clearly visible narrowing of its diameter.
โ
Once past the diaphragm, therefore, already within the abdominal cavity, it ends immediately after at the cardia or lower esophageal sphincter.
โ
This small anatomical region we are describing, consisting of the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm, the diaphragmatic narrowing of the esophagus, the cardia, and the portion of the stomach fundus that immediately follows the cardia, is the area that, over the years, can undergo anatomical-functional changes that constitute the pathological condition known as a hiatal hernia.
โ
Furthermore, the diaphragm and abdominal musculature prevent and improve back pain, vertebral slippage, and lumbar lordosis.
โ
ย Let's learn how to breathe with the diaphragm:โ
-
Lie down in a supine position, face up, and focus your attention on your belly.
-
To feel the diaphragm, place one hand on your belly and one on your chest, and start breathing; the goal is to make the hand placed on your belly rise, while the one on your chest should remain still.
-
Inhale through your nose and observe your belly filling with air, then slowly exhale through your mouth.
-
The hand on the chest is there to ensure the chest does not rise, and if you notice that the hand is rising, it means you are not using your diaphragm.
-
When you exhale, open your mouth and let the air out passively, without contracting your abdominal muscles or arching your back.
-
Even in this case, the hand on your chest must remain still.
โ
To breathe correctly with the diaphragm, it is necessary to practice, and if you learn to exhale through your mouth, it can be useful when you are anxious to release tension."
โ
โ
๐๐ข ๐ด๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐