Which structure is a ligament of the diaphragm?

Which structure is a ligament of the diaphragm?

• A. Lateral arcuate ligament
• B. Psoas major
• C. Iliac crest
• D. Central tendon

Answer: (A)

The diaphragm has specialized fibrous bands called arcuate ligaments that help reinforce its posterior boundary. The lateral arcuate ligament is one of these ligaments; it thickens the fascia over the quadratus lumborum and arches from the transverse process of a lumbar vertebra toward the iliac crest and 12th rib. This makes it a true ligament of the diaphragm, contributing to its supportive architecture. In contrast, the central tendon is the broad central aponeurosis of the diaphragm, not a ligament; psoas major is a muscle of the posterior abdominal wall, and the iliac crest is a bone margin. So the structure that qualifies as a diaphragm ligament is the lateral arcuate ligament.

The diaphragm has specialized fibrous bands called arcuate ligaments that help reinforce its posterior boundary. The lateral arcuate ligament is one of these ligaments; it thickens the fascia over the quadratus lumborum and arches from the transverse process of a lumbar vertebra toward the iliac crest and 12th rib. This makes it a true ligament of the diaphragm, contributing to its supportive architecture. In contrast, the central tendon is the broad central aponeurosis of the diaphragm, not a ligament; psoas major is a muscle of the posterior abdominal wall, and the iliac crest is a bone margin. So the structure that qualifies as a diaphragm ligament is the lateral arcuate ligament.