Model of Herniation in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (IMAGE)

University of Utah Health

Model of Herniation in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Caption

CDH is a common defect that occurs in 1 in 3,000 births, and 50 percent patients die from related complications. Research from the University of Utah provides new information on how CDH arises, opening avenues for researching therapeutic interventions. LEFT - The diaphragm acts as a barrier that separates the liver and guts in the abdominal cavity from the heart and lungs in the chest cavity. A normal, healthy diaphragm is comprised of a dome-shaped layer of muscle (red) that overlies a layer of connective tissue (green, not visible on left). CENTER - Experiments in mice show that diaphragms missing muscle do not develop hernias. RIGHT -- Research suggests that CDH originates from regions with connective tissue but no diaphragm muscle. Internal pressure from growing organs in the abdominal cavity causes them to protrude through the weak spots and into the chest cavity.

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Gabrielle Kardon

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Credit Gabrielle Kardon

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