What it means
The muscle that separates the chest from the belly. When it tightens, it moves down and pulls air into the lungs; when it relaxes, air flows out. The phrenic nerve, from the neck, controls it. In a stethoscopeSTETH-uh-skohpA tool used to listen to sounds inside the body, such as the heart, lungs and bowel.Full entry , the diaphragm is the wide flat side, used for high-pitched sounds such as normal heart and lung sounds. A diaphragm is also a cup-shaped birth control device placed in the vagina.
For the nurse
Diaphragmatic (belly) breathing exercises help clients after surgery and with lung disease. A spinal cord injury high in the neck can stop the diaphragm and breathing.
At a glance
| Spanish | diafragma |
|---|---|
| Also written | diaphragms, diaphragmatic |
Related terms
respiration
Breathing air in and out, and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air, the blood and the cells.
spinal cord
The long bundle of nerves that runs down through the backbone and carries messages between the brain and the body.
hernia
A bulge of an organ or tissue through a weak spot in the muscle or tissue wall that normally holds it in.
stethoscope
A tool used to listen to sounds inside the body, such as the heart, lungs and bowel.