Diaphragmatic apertures (mnemonic)

Last revised by Daniel MacManus on 28 Mar 2021

Two useful mnemonics to remember the thoracic spinal levels at which the three major structures pass through the diaphragmatic apertures is:

  • I 8 10 eggs at 12  - where 8 is a homophone for 'ate' and the 'e' in eggs is for the US spelling of esophagus
  • the number of letters per structure

Mnemonic

 

  • T8: vena cava has 8 letters, as does the abbreviation of its companion structure the phrenic nerve "phrenicN"
  • T10: esophagus (UK spelling) has 10 letters, its companion structure the vagus nerve is cranial nerve X "CN 10"
  • T12: "aortic hiatus" and its companion structure the thoracic duct have 12 letters

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