Diaphragm

A dome-shaped skeletal muscle between the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Domelike sheet of skeletal muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities; contraction during inspiration expands the thoracic (chest) cavity.

A contraceptive device that fits over the entrance of the cervix and serves as a barrier to sperm. Its effectiveness as a contraceptive is increased when used in conjunction with a spermicidal cream or jelly.

A thin layer of tissue stretched across an opening, especially the flexible sheet of muscle and fibre which separates the chest from the abdomen and moves to pull air into the lungs in respiration.

A form of birth control using a slightly cup-shaped disk of soft rubber, with a flexible rim, that fits over the cervix. Filled with a spermicide jelly or cream before insertion, the diaphragm forms both a physical and chemical barrier to sperm. The spermicide or the rubber in the diaphragm can sometimes cause allergic reactions in the woman or her partner. Unlike the cervical sponge, the diaphragm is a prescription device that must be fitted by a physician. It is to be inserted within an hour before intercourse and left in place for at least six hours afterward, with additions of spermicidal cream or jelly if intercourse is repeated. The diaphragm’s effectiveness as a contraceptive is estimated by the Food and Drug Administration as between 80 and 98 percent.  More generally, a diaphragm is a partition of muscle and tissue between the chest and abdomen.

Muscular partition that divides the chest from the abdomen and functions in respiration, moving downward during inspiration (breathing in) to increase the volume of the thoracic (chest) cavity and moving upward during expiration (breathing out) to decrease the volume. During inspiration the diaphram moves downward, as the ribs move forward and outward, enlarging the chest cavity. Air then rushes in. During expiration the diaphragm rises, the chest cavity becomes smaller and air is forced out of the lungs.

A curved, muscular membrane that divides the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

A thin musculomembranous dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The diaphragm is attached to the lower ribs at each side and to the breastbone and the backbone at the front and back. It bulges upward against the heart and the lungs, arching over the stomach, liver, and spleen. There are openings in the diaphragm through which the esophagus, blood vessels, and nerves pass. The diaphragm plays an important role in breathing. It contracts with each inspiration, becoming flattened downward and increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity. With each expiration it relaxes and is restored to its dome shape.

The diaphragm is the thin, dome-shaped muscle which separates the cavity of the abdomen from that of the chest. It is of great importance in respiration, playing the chief part in filling the lungs. During deep respiration its movements are responsible for 60 per cent of the total amount of air breathed, and in the horizontal posture, or in sleep, an even greater percentage.

The sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and that functions in respiration.

Muscular wall that separates the thorax from the abdominal region and helps control breathing.

The thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen.

A dome-shaped muscle that lies just below the lungs and is the main muscle involved in breathing.

The human anatomy boasts a remarkable structure known as the diaphragm—a thin, resilient sheet of muscular tissue that acts as a vital partition, demarcating the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. This anatomical marvel serves as a physical barrier, ensuring the proper segregation and functionality of these two crucial regions within the body. With its unique composition and strategic placement, the diaphragm assumes an indispensable role in facilitating respiration and providing essential support to the surrounding organs. Its intricate nature and purposeful positioning highlight the intricacies of the human form, showcasing the remarkable synergy between structure and function in our wondrous physiology.