Rat Diaphragm Tissue
The digital image featured in this section is a three-dimensional reconstruction of a 16-micrometer section of rat diaphragm tissue stained with Alexa Fluor 488 (neurofilaments), Alexa Fluor 568 (phalloidin; labeling actin filaments), and DAPI (nuclei). In mammals, the thoracic diaphragm separates the heart, lungs, and ribs from the abdominal cavity, and functions in breathing. The diaphragm also helps to expel vomit, feces, and urine by increasing intra-abdominal pressure, and prevents acid reflux by applying pressure on the esophagus.