Esophageal hiatus - wikipedia Esophageal hiatus This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2015 ) Esophageal hiatus The diaphragm. Under surface. ( Esophageal hiatus labeled at center right. ) Details Identifiers Latin Hiatus oesophageus Dorlands / Elsevier h_11 / 12422045 TA A04. 4.02. 011 FMA 58289 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) In human anatomy, the esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus and the vagus nerve pass. It is located in the right crus, one of the two tendinous structures that connect the diaphragm to the spine. Fibers of the right crus cross one another below the hiatus. It is located approximately at level of the tenth thoracic vertebra ( T10 ). The esophageal hiatus is situated in the muscular part of the diaphragm at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra, and is elliptical in shape. It is placed superior, anterior, and slightly left of the aortic hiatus, and transmits the esophagus, the vagus nerve, the left inferior phrenic vessels, and some small esophageal arteries from left gastric vessels. The right crus of the diaphragm loops around forming a sling around the esophagus. Upon inspiration, this sling would constrict the esophagus, forming an functional ( not anatomical ) sphincter that prevents stomach contents from refluxing up the esophagus when intra-abdominal pressure rises during inspiration. See also Hiatus hernia References Jump up ^ Moore, KL ; Agur, AMR ; Dalley, AF ( 2011 ). Essential Clinical Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 181. ISBN 978 - 1 - 60913 - 112 - 8. External links Anatomy photo : 40 : 08 - 0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - `` Major Openings in the Diaphragm '' Thoracic diaphragm General Central tendon Crus of diaphragm arcuate ligaments Lateral Medial Median Openings major : Caval opening Esophageal hiatus Aortic hiatus minor : Sternocostal triangle Lumbocostal triangle Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Esophageal_hiatus&oldid=773092217 '' Categories : Thoracic diaphragm Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from September 2015 All articles needing additional references Medicine infobox template using GraySubject or GrayPage Medicine infobox template using Dorlands parameter Talk About Wikipedia Eesti Español Nederlands Português Edit links This page was last edited on 31 March 2017, at 06 : 49. About Wikipedia

Question: where does the esophagus pass through the diaphragm
Answer: the esophageal hiatus