What is the function of the anatomical structure indicated by the blue arrow in the image below?

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Options:
explanation: The image shows a dissection of the thoracic cavity with two main nerves travelling each side of the heart. The nerve indicated by the blue arrow is the right phrenic nerve, whose course from the C3-C5 spinal levels is through the neck inferiorly, laterally to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava, alongside the right pericardium and close to the inferior vena cava opening of the diaphragm (T8). The function of the right phrenic nerve is to innervate the right side of the diaphragm to promote its contraction during respiration. The left phrenic nerve innervates the left side of the diaphragm, but it is not indicated by the arrow in this image. The relaxation of the diaphragm and increase in intrathoracic pressure during expiration is a passive process, which does not require the contraction of the diaphragm.
name: Innervates the left side of the diaphragm allowing its relaxation and promoting increased intrathoracic pressure during expiration
label: d
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissection of the thoracic cavity with two main nerves travelling each side of the heart. The nerve indicated by the blue arrow is the right phrenic nerve, whose course from the C3-C5 spinal levels is through the neck inferiorly, laterally to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava, alongside the right pericardium and close to the inferior vena cava opening of the diaphragm (T8). The left phrenic nerve’s function is described in this answer. The right phrenic nerve only innervates the right side of the diaphragm.
name: Innervates the left side of the diaphragm allowing its contraction and promoting lung expansion during inspiration
label: b
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissection of the thoracic cavity with two main nerves travelling each side of the heart. The nerve indicated by the blue arrow is the right phrenic nerve, whose course from the C3-C5 spinal levels is through the neck inferiorly, laterally to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava, alongside the right pericardium and close to the inferior vena cava opening of the diaphragm (T8). The function of the right phrenic nerve is to innervate the right side of the diaphragm to promote its contraction during respiration. The right larynx is innervated by the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, which branches off the vagus nerve as it courses down through the neck.
name: Innervates the right side of the larynx contributing to the function of phonation
label: e
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissection of the thoracic cavity with two main nerves travelling each side of the heart. The nerve indicated by the blue arrow is the right phrenic nerve, whose course from the C3-C5 spinal levels is through the neck inferiorly, laterally to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava, alongside the right pericardium and close to the inferior vena cava opening of the diaphragm (T8). The function of the right phrenic nerve is to innervate the right side of the diaphragm to promote its contraction during respiration. The relaxation of the diaphragm and increase in intrathoracic pressure during expiration is a passive process, which does not require the contraction of the diaphragm.
name: Innervates the right side of the diaphragm allowing its relaxation and promoting increased intrathoracic pressure during expiration
label: c
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissection of the thoracic cavity with two main nerves travelling each side of the heart. The nerve indicated by the blue arrow is the right phrenic nerve, whose course from the C3-C5 spinal levels is through the neck inferiorly, laterally to the right brachiocephalic vein and the superior vena cava, alongside the right pericardium and close to the inferior vena cava opening of the diaphragm (T8). Its function is indeed, to innervate the right side of the diaphragm and promote its contraction during inspiration. Remember C3, C4, C5 keeps the diaphragm alive.
name: Innervates the right side of the diaphragm allowing its contraction and promoting lung expansion during inspiration
label: a
answer: yes

Correct answer: a