title: Intramuscular distribution of the phrenic nerve in human diaphragm as shown by Sihler staining.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intramuscular innervation of the human diaphragm has not been well described. The goal of this study was to elucidate the detailed intramuscular distribution of the phrenic nerve in the human diaphragm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen human diaphragms were visualized using modified Sihler staining, and the detailed intramuscular phrenic nerve distribution was photographed and recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three types of primary phrenic nerve branches were noted. Each type of primary branch innervated a confined muscular subvolume of the diaphragm, and the intramuscular branches in each subvolume anastomosed largely with one another and formed a characteristic "net" of nerve branches. A few small nerve filaments were seen entering the peripheral diaphragm. The directions and locations of nerve branches innervating the hiatal diaphragm were not symmetrical between sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may offer useful information for anatomists, physiologists, and clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, 505, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Xiaochun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Je-Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi-Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chenghe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000294:innervation*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents