Reviewing some of the the anatomy that I’ve learned over the last 2-3 years lately and this one is a drawing of the thorax, specifically illustrating the attachments (connective tissue ligaments) which suspend and stabilize the Pericardium (the hearts’ outer layer).   

I still find it really interesting that one these attachments (the top one - the verebropericardial ligament) goes all the way up from the pericardium up to C7 to T4 - and sometimes as high as C4. This kind of reminds me that tension in the neck can come from lots of places,  if for instance this ligament is tight for some reason, it could easily be pulling on the neck and causing pain or restricted movement.

Same can be said for the other two ligaments that attach to the sternum, except that the tension pattern - when these ligaments are tight, tend to create tightness in the chest.   The superior sternopericardial ligament attaches from the pericardium to the manubirum (just below the throat).  The Inferior sternopericardial ligament attaches to the lower portion of the sternum.

I find it also really interesting that there is an acupressure point on both areas where the ligaments attach, and both are really great at releasing tension in the chest and regulating heart and lung function.  Ren Mai 17 has been a favorite point of mine to use for ust for these purposes. It’s really great to understand the mechanism behind it now - pressing on these points can help relax these ligaments.

When I took the Visceral Manipulation Thorax class, we learned some great chest compressions for the ligaments and the Lungs, which besides relaxing the ligaments, most of my clients with anxiety, remark at how calming these compressions are - really dissolving their sense of anxiety.

And at the very bottom of the pericardium is the Anterior Phrenopericardial lig.(note I mistakenly titled it the phrenocardial lig. on the drawing). This is the attachment from the pericardium to the diaphragm  and logically when this gets tight, breathing problems can occur.

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