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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Heart, Circulation and Breathing

Diaphragm

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

/ˈdaɪəfræm/nounCommon term

In anatomy & physiology, diaphragm means: The dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. When it contracts it flattens and draws air into the lungs; it is the main muscle of breathing.

In Turkish: diyafram

How it is used

It is supplied by the phrenic nerve (C3, C4, C5), which students remember with the rhyme 'C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive'. Structures such as the esophagus and the aorta pass through openings in it. The adjective is diaphragmatic.

Example sentences

  1. During a deep breath in, the diaphragm moves down and the chest cavity gets bigger.

  2. The esophagus passes through the diaphragm to reach the stomach.

Common collocations

  • dome of the diaphragm
  • phrenic nerve
  • diaphragmatic breathing
  • contraction of the diaphragm
  • respirationThe process of taking in oxygen and getting rid of carbon dioxide. It covers breathing (ventilation), gas exchange in the lungs and tissues, and the use of oxygen inside cells (cellular respiration).
  • lungOne of the two spongy organs in the chest where oxygen passes from the air into the blood and carbon dioxide leaves it. The right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two.
  • thoraxThe chest: the part of the trunk between the neck and the abdomen. It is enclosed by the ribs, sternum and thoracic vertebrae and contains the heart and lungs.
  • abdomenThe part of the trunk between the chest and the pelvis. It contains the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys and other organs, and is separated from the chest by the diaphragm.
  • rib cageThe bony frame of the chest formed by 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum and the thoracic vertebrae. It protects the heart and lungs and moves during breathing.

More terms: Heart, Circulation and Breathing

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.