What is the function of the diaphragm?
Quick Answer
The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that stretches like a dome over the organs of the upper abdomen and serves as a boundary between the abdominal cavity and the thoracic. It separates the lungs from the main body cavity and, together with the ribs, forms a seal that allows the lungs to inflate as part of the process of respiration.
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Full Answer
The diaphragm is firmly anchored to the lumbar vertebrae and the inferior ribs of the thorax. As it contracts and relaxes, the diaphragm creates a slight pressure differential between the thoracic cavity and the external air. This partial vacuum draws fresh air into the lungs to participate in gas exchange with the blood. At the end of the cycle of inspiration, the diaphragm rises again to restore pressure and expel the used air from the lungs and back into the environment. At an average respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute, the diaphragm delivers nearly 1,000 breaths in a single hour and well over half a billion breaths in an average 80-year lifespan. The diaphragm is controlled by two areas of the brain, the pons and the medulla oblongata, which keep it in operation continuously without the need for conscious control.
Learn more about MusclesRelated Questions
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Q:
What sheet of muscles in your body cavity helps you during the breathing process?
A: The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle under the lungs that plays a vital role in the breathing process, explains InnerBody. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped mus... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What type of muscle tissue makes up the diaphragm?
A: The diaphragm is made of skeletal muscle tissue. Any cell that has the ability to contract is considered a muscle cell. Skeletal muscles are typically volu... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is the name of the muscle at the lower base of the ribcage?
A: The muscle at the lower base of the rib cage is the diaphragm. This sheet of muscle separates the chest cavity from the abdomen, and it stretches across th... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
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What are the eight major muscle groups of the body?
A: The shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs and calves contain eight skeletal muscle groups. These include deltoid and trapezius muscles in... Full Answer >Filed Under:
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