<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The phrenic nerve is a nerve that originates in the neck (C3 - C5) and passes down between the lung and heart to reach the diaphragm . It is important for breathing, as it passes motor information to the diaphragm and receives sensory information from it . There are two phrenic nerves, a left and a right one . </P> <P> The phrenic nerve originates mainly from the 4th cervical nerve, but also receives contributions from the 5th and 3rd cervical nerves (C3 - C5) in humans . Thus, the phrenic nerve receives innervation from parts of both the cervical plexus and the brachial plexus of nerves . </P> <P> The phrenic nerves contain motor, sensory, and sympathetic nerve fibers . These nerves provide the only motor supply to the diaphragm as well as sensation to the central tendon . In the thorax, each phrenic nerve supplies the mediastinal pleura and pericardium . </P>

Where do the nerves that control the diaphragm exit the cns