The medial arcuate ligament (also medial lumbocostal arch and internal arcuate ligament) is a tendinous fascia that arches over the
psoas major muscle as it passes posterior the
diaphragm
Diaphragm may refer to:
Anatomy
* Thoracic diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle between the thorax and the abdomen
* Pelvic diaphragm or pelvic floor, a pelvic structure
* Urogenital diaphragm or triangular ligament, a pelvic structure
Other
* Diap ...
.
Structure
The medial arcuate ligament is an arch in the fascia covering the upper part of the
psoas major. It is attached to the side of the body of the first or second
lumbar vertebra, laterally, it is fixed to the front of the transverse process of the first and, sometimes also, to that of the second lumbar vertebra.
It lies between the
lateral arcuate ligament
The lateral arcuate ligament (also lateral lumbocostal arch and external arcuate ligament) is a ligament under the diaphragm that arches across the upper part of the quadratus lumborum muscle. It is traversed by the subcostal nerve, artery and vein ...
and the midline
median arcuate ligament.
The sympathetic chain enters the abdomen by passing deep into this ligament of the diaphragm. This is in contrast to the parasympathetic
Vagus nerve which passes through the
esophageal hiatus.
See also
*
Lateral arcuate ligament
The lateral arcuate ligament (also lateral lumbocostal arch and external arcuate ligament) is a ligament under the diaphragm that arches across the upper part of the quadratus lumborum muscle. It is traversed by the subcostal nerve, artery and vein ...
*
Median arcuate ligament
References
External links
*
* ()
Ligaments of the torso
Thoracic diaphragm
{{ligament-stub