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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Functional and Morphological Assessment of Diaphragm Innervation by Phrenic Motor Neurons
Published on: May 25, 2015
Phrenic nerve distribution in the rabbit diaphragm and morphometric analysis of nerve branches
H B Turgut1, T Peker, M Karaköse
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey. turguthb@gazi.edu.tr
Abstract:
The best method to evaluate the pathogenesis of diaphragmatic disorders is to demonstrate the distribution pattern of the phrenic nerve in the diaphragm. For this purpose the branching pattern and the microanatomic features of the phrenic nerve were observed in six rabbits. All diaphragms were stained by using Sihler's stain method. The phrenic nerve divided into three to four branches when entering the diaphragm. These branches were classified as sternal, anterolateral, posterolateral and crural. The crural branches were the thickest whereas the anterolateral branches were the thinnest. Knowledge about the distribution pattern of the phrenic nerve may be important in surgical approach to the diaphragm.
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