11. They pass laterally and slightly upward, over the inferior phrenic and renal arteries. 12. The mediastinal and central portions of the diaphragmatic pleurae are innervated by the phrenic nerves. 13. The right phrenic nerve may be crushed by the vena cava clamp during liver transplantation. 14. Hiccups are fast, involuntary spasms of the diaphragm caused by irritation of those phrenic nerves. 15. In canines the phrenic nerve arises from C5-C7 with occasional small contributions from C4. 16. Severing the phrenic nerve, or a phrenectomy, will paralyse that half of the diaphragm. 17. Diaphragmatic spasm is easily checked by pinching the phrenic nerve in the neck between the fingertips. 18. Diaphragmatic spasm is easily tested for and treated by short term interruption of the Phrenic nerve. 19. The Mark IV Breathing Pacemaker is a phrenic nerve stimulator, also called a diaphragm pacemaker. 20. The accessory phrenic nerve connects to the phrenic nerve in the thorax or the root of the neck.
