Cranio-caudal movements of the liver, pancreas and kidneys in respiration.

The range of movement of the liver, pancreas and kidneys in maximum and normal respiration, and the ability to suspend respiration repeatedly leaving the organs in exactly the same position with the aid of given instructions or a combination of instructions and a simple tool were investigated. The range of movement of the most mobile organ (liver) was 5.5 cm during maximum, 2.5 cm during normal, 0.9 cm during suspended respiration, and 0.2 cm during suspended respiration with a bar placed above the abdomen.