Investigations on the innervation of the human diaphragm

In 2 dogs, 5 cats and 30 human cadavers the diaphragmatic innervation has been studied macroscopically and microscopically. General findings of previous authors regarding phrenic and intercostal nerve contributions have been confirmed and subdiaphragmatic connections from the coeliac plexus to the diaphragm have been clearly demonstrated. The presence of this viscerosomatic interconnection in half of the human subjects studied, highlights the possible importance of autonomic control of diaphragmatic musculature. The finding of comparable autonomic connections in dogs raises the possibility of pursuing the question experimentally by carrying out nerve degeneration studies. In addition the matter of surgical incisions in the diaphragm has been reconsidered and the suggested placements have been illustrated.