Diaphragm

DiaphragmDiaphragm

User's Manual
Amazing Facts
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Many muscles are used for breathing. During deep expiration, the abdominal muscles squeeze the abdominal contents upward, forcing the chest cavity to become smaller. Muscles running from the vertebrae to the ribs, and muscles running in between the ribs flex to rotate the ribs and sternum up and out. This increases the volume of the chest cavity during deep inspiration. However, the principle muscle used for respiration at all times is the dome shaped diaphragm. The diaphragm serves as a barrier between the abdomen and thorax. When contracted it flattens and pulls itself down, thus making more room inside the thorax. Because there is more space available in the thorax, air rushes in to fill the space, passing through the trachea and blowing up the lungs. When the diaphragm is relaxed, pressure from the abdominal contents pushes the diaphragm back up, decreasing the space available in the thorax, causing the air to rush out, and thus deflating the lungs.

User's Manual

The best way to strengthen your diaphragm is through aerobic exercise. Check out our Aerobic exercise page.

  • Anatomy Topics

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Amazing Facts

  • You breathe enough air throughout your lifetime to fill 10 million balloons.
  • The air from a sneeze travels at almost 100mph.
  • Humans breathe 20 times per minute.
  • Only 1/5 of the air you breathe is oxygen.
  • One cigarette shortens your life by 14 minutes.
  • Yawning can be the result of a lack of oxygen

Related Links

Respiratory System
Nose
Mouth
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Lungs