Aortic hiatus

Aortic hiatus
The diaphragm. Under surface. (Aortic hiatus labeled near center.)
Celiac and cranial mesenteric ganglion in a cat. 1 Crus sinistrum (Diaphragma), 2 hiatus aorticus, 3 Aorta, 4 Arteria lumbalis, 5 Nervus splanchnicus major, 6 Arteria coeliaca, 7 Arteria phrenica caudalis, 8 Ganglion coeliacum, 9 Plexus coeliacus, 10 Ganglion mesentericum craniale, 11 Plexus mesentericus cranialis, 12 Arteria mesenterica cranialis, 13 Nervus splanchnicus minor, 14 Adrenal gland, 15 Arteria abdominalis cranialis, 16 Stomach, 17 Liver (Lobus caudatus), 18 Kidney
Details
Identifiers
Latin	hiatus aorticus
Dorlands /Elsevier	h_11/12421932
TA	A04.4.02.010
FMA	58288
Anatomical terminology []

The aortic hiatus is a hole in the diaphragm. It is the lowest and most posterior of the large apertures.

It is located approximately at the level of the twelfth thoracic vertebra (T12).

Strictly speaking, it is not an aperture in the diaphragm but an osseoaponeurotic opening between it and the vertebral column, and therefore behind the diaphragm (Meaning that diaphragmatic contractions do not directly influence the Aorta or aortic supply).

Occasionally some tendinous fibers prolonged across the bodies of the vertebræ from the medial parts of the inferior ends of the crura pass posterior to the aorta, and thus convert the hiatus into a fibrous ring.

The hiatus is situated slightly to the left of the mid line, and is bound anteriorly by the crura, and posteriorly by the body of the first lumbar vertebra.

Through it passes the aorta, the azygos vein, the thoracic duct, and hemi-azygos vein passes through the left crus.

The thoracic and right lymphatic ducts.