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
- I 8: inferior vena cava at T8
- 10 eggs: esophagus (US spelling) at T10
- at 12: aorta at T12
- 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