Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

The diaphragm: two physiological muscles in one.

Mark Pickering1, James F X Jones

  • 1Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology, University College Dublin, Ireland.

Journal of Anatomy
|November 15, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The diaphragm muscle, crucial for breathing, also prevents acid reflux. Studying its motor control in rats and frogs reveals insights into its dual respiratory and anti-reflux functions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Are neuroanatomy multimedia resources effective in improving medical students' understanding of structural and functional neuroanatomy? A systematic review.

Anatomical sciences education·2025
Same author

3D printing variation: Teaching and assessing hepatobiliary variants in human anatomy.

Anatomical sciences education·2025
Same author

Novel co-axial, disposable, low-cost 3D printed videolaryngoscopes for patients with COVID-19: a manikin study.

European journal of anaesthesiology and intensive care·2025
Same author

Comparing oncological outcomes of robotic versus open surgery in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

Archives of gynecology and obstetrics·2024
Same author

EnderScope: a low-cost 3D printer-based scanning microscope for microplastic detection.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2024
Same author

Management of unscheduled bleeding on HRT: A joint guideline on behalf of the British Menopause Society, Royal College Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy, Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Royal College of General Practitioners and Getting it Right First Time.

Post reproductive health·2024
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • The diaphragm is primarily known as the main muscle for breathing.
  • Gastrointestinal physiologists recognize its role in preventing esophageal acid reflux.
  • The diaphragm comprises distinct crural and costal regions with potentially divergent functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the motor control of the diaphragm's anti-reflux function.
  • To examine neuronal activity in the rat phrenic nerve branches.
  • To search for homologous structures in basal vertebrates.

Main Methods:

  • Recording single neuronal activity from rat phrenic nerve branches (crural and costal).
  • Comparative anatomical study of esophageal muscular structures in basal vertebrates, including Xenopus laevis.
  • Analysis of diaphragm muscle function during respiration, swallowing, and emesis.

Main Results:

  • Transient crural diaphragm relaxations precede spontaneous acid reflux episodes.
  • Distinct motor axon types identified in the rat phrenic nerve.
  • Identification of a potential esophageal muscular homolog of the mammalian crural diaphragm in pipid frogs.

Conclusions:

  • The diaphragm possesses a dual role in respiration and preventing gastroesophageal reflux.
  • Motor control of the diaphragm, particularly the crural region, is key to understanding reflux mechanisms.
  • Homologous structures in frogs suggest a non-respiratory, anti-reflux origin for the crural diaphragm.

Related Experiment Videos