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Review
. 2020 Jan 13;12(1):e6645.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.6645.

Ageing of the Diaphragm Muscle

Bruno Bordoni  1 , Bruno Morabito  2 , Marta Simonelli  3
Affiliations
Review

Ageing of the Diaphragm Muscle

Bruno Bordoni et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The diaphragm muscle is the most important contractile district used for breathing. Like other muscles in the human body, it is subject to ageing and sarcopenia. Sarcopenia can be classified as primary (or age-related) when there are no local or systemic pathologies that cause a functional and morphological detriment of skeletal musculature. Secondary sarcopenia occurs when there is a cause or more pathological causes (illness, malnutrition, immobility) related or unrelated to ageing. In the elderly population, transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) decreases by 20-41%, with a decline in the overall strength of 30% (the strength of the expiratory muscles also decreases). The article discusses the adaptation of the diaphragm muscle to ageing and some other ailments and co-morbidities, such as back pain, emotional alterations, motor incoordination, and cognitive disorders, which are related to breathing.

Keywords: ageing; diaphragm; fascia; phrenic nerve; sarcopenia; skeletal muscle; vagus nerve.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The image of skeletal muscle tissue by electron scanning under a microscope
Figure 2
Figure 2. An anatomical dissection diaphragm from its abdominal position. On the left, the aorta and esophagus have been removed, while on the right it is possible to observe the esophagus
Figure 3
Figure 3. The area of passage of the esophagus inside the diaphragm and the phrenoesophageal ligaments
Figure 4
Figure 4. Biopsy of mouse muscle fibers
Young mouse (left); old mouse (right). The aerobic fibers in dark shade are I, while the white or anaerobic fibers are II (as labeled)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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