THE ARTERIAL BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE CAT DIAPHRAGM WITH A NOTE ON THE VENOUS DRAINAGE

¹ ARC, Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge; War Department, Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, Porton Down, Near Salisbury, Wilts
² Bedford College, Regents Park, London, N.W.I.; War Department, Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment, Porton Down, Near Salisbury, Wilts

In fifty-three cats the arterial blood supply to the diaphragm was studied and some observations made on the venous drainage. The arteries arise from the 8th to 13th intercostal arteries, the internal mammary arteries and from branches of the abdominal aorta. Rarely there are direct branches from both the thoracic and the abdominal aorta. There are considerable variations in the pattern of supply. The veins drain into tributaries of the intercostal veins, the internal mammary veins and into the inferior vena cava.

Note:

We are grateful to Mr. B. Aldous for unfailing technical assistance.