The median arcuate ligament is a ligament

Ligament

In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...

 under the diaphragm that connects the right and left crura of diaphragm.

Structure

The median arcuate ligament is formed by the right and left crura of the diaphragm. The crura

Crus of diaphragm

The crura of the diaphragm are tendinous structures that extend inferiorly from the diaphragm to attach to the vertebral column...

 connect to form an arch, behind which is the aortic hiatus

Aortic hiatus

The aortic hiatus is a hole in the human diaphragm. It is the lowest and most posterior of the large apertures.It is located approximately at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra .-Structure:...

, through which pass the aorta

Aorta

The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...

, the azygos vein

Azygos vein

The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column. It can also provide an alternate path for blood to the right atrium by allowing the blood to flow between the venae cavae when one vena cava is blocked.-Structure:...

, and the thoracic duct

Thoracic duct

In human anatomy, the thoracic duct of the lymphatic system is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body. It is also known as the left lymphatic duct, alimentary duct, chyliferous duct, and Van Hoorne's canal....

.

Clinical significance

Compression of celiac artery

Celiac artery

The celiac artery, also known as the celiac trunk, is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta. Branching from the aorta anterior to the upper border of L1 vertebra in humans, it is one of three anterior/ midline branches of the abdominal aorta The celiac (or coeliac) artery, also known as...

 and celiac ganglia

Celiac ganglia

The celiac ganglia or coeliac ganglia are two large irregularly shaped masses of nerve tissue in the upper abdomen. Part of the sympathetic subdivision of the autonomic nervous system , the two celiac ganglia are the largest ganglia in the ANS, and they innervate most of the digestive tract.They...

 by the median arcuate ligament can lead to the median arcuate ligament syndrome

Median arcuate ligament syndrome

In medicine, the median arcuate ligament syndrome is a condition characterized by abdominal pain attributed to compression of the celiac artery and possibly the celiac ganglia by the median arcuate ligament. The abdominal pain may be related to meals, may be accompanied by weight loss, and may be...

, which is characterized by abdominal pain, weight loss, and an epigastric bruit.

External links

- "The abdominal surface of the diaphragm."