Ventrolateral view, left side

Ventrolateral view, left side

Ventrolateral view, right side

The phrenic nerve is formed from the union of branches of the anterior rami of cervical spinal nerves 3, 4, and 5.  It serves the diaphragm.  Note that on the right side it runs along the caudal vena cava as it passes to the diaphragm.  When you remove the left lung, please be careful not to cut the phrenic nerve (no cat terrorism!).  Remember the mnemonic �C3, 4, 5 � stay alive � phrenic, phrenic, phrenic�!