Inferior thoracic aperture

Inferior thoracic aperture
The posterior aspect of the thorax. (Inferior thoracic aperture visible at bottom.)
Latin apertura thoracis inferior

Anatomy

The inferior thoracic aperture is much larger than the superior thoracic aperture. In layman's terms, it is the round opening whose edges are the lowest ribs. It is closed by the diaphragm, which separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

The inferior thoracic aperture is bounded by:

Structures passing through the inferior thoracic aperture between the thorax and abdomen include the inferior vena cava and esophagus, both of which pass through the diaphragm, and the abdominal aorta and thoracic duct which pass posterior to the diaphragm through the aortic hiatus.

References

[1] [2]