Anatom3DPhrenic nerve
Nervus phrenicus · Bráničný nerv
Nervous system
Looks like
A nerve from the neck roots running down over the front of the neck muscles, past the heart, to the diaphragm.
What it does
Drives the diaphragm for every breath.
Keeping it well
Spinal injury above C5 or damage in chest surgery stops breathing; breathlessness lying flat can be a paralysed diaphragm.