Abstract
The diaphragm (Greek: dia = between; phragma = fence) is a musculoaponeurotic structure that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities [1]. It is, however, not just “the thoracic floor” but the most important muscle of respiration [2] and also plays an important role in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. Impairment of diaphragmatic function can have major physiological consequences. Many of these impairments are amenable for surgical correction, but correct diagnosis and treatment require thorough understanding of form and function. The old maxim: “Let them never forget that without anatomy there is no physiology, no surgery, no medicine” holds true also for the diaphragm [3].
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Welvaart, W.N., Paul, M.A. (2012). The Diaphragm: Introduction and Basics. In: Inderbitzi, R., Schmid, R., Melfi, F., Casula, R. (eds) Minimally Invasive Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11861-6_35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11861-6_35
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