what does the diaphragm do?

Answer 1

lol i dont think thats what he meant

The diaphragm is a muscular tissue surrounding the lungs that is, essentially, what allows you to breathe, sneeze, cough, etc.

It is a very strong "slab" of muscle that is between the lungs and the rest of the organs in your torso. When it relaxes, the air gets sucked into your lungs. When it tenses, the air is pushed out of them.

Answer 2

In the anatomy of mammals, the diaphragm is a shelf of muscle extending across the bottom of the ribcage. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity (with lung and heart) from the abdominal cavity (with liver, stomach, intestines, etc.). In its relaxed state, the diaphragm is shaped like a dome.

Function
It is critically important in respiration: in order to draw air into the lungs, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure (the external intercostals muscles also participate in this enlargement). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled by elastic recoil of the lung and the tissues lining the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is also found in other vertebrates such as reptiles.

The diaphragm also helps to expel vomit, feces, and urine from the body by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

Pathology
A hiatal hernia can result from a tear or weakness in the diaphragm near the gastroesophageal junction.

If the diaphragm is struck, or otherwise spasms, breathing will become difficult. This is called having the wind knocked out of you.

The diaphragm is sometimes deemed to consist of left and right hemidiaphragms. The two are visible as separate dome-like structures on chest X-ray. In addition, they are controlled separately by the left and right phrenic nerves; damage to one of these nerves leads to dysfunction or paralysis of the corresponding hemidiaphgram (and damage to both nerves can cause bilateral paralysis, severely impairing respiration).

A hiccup occurs when the diaphragm contracts periodically without voluntary control.

Anatomy
The Diaphragm is a dome-shaped musculofibrous septum which separates the thoracic from the abdominal cavity, its convex upper surface forming the floor of the former, and its concave under surface the roof of the latter. Its peripheral part consists of muscular fibers which take origin from the circumference of the thoracic outlet and converge to be inserted into a central tendon.

The muscular fibers may be grouped according to their origins into three parts

Sternal
Costal
Lumbar

Answer 3

In the anatomy of mammals, the diaphragm is a shelf of muscle extending across the bottom of the ribcage. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity (with lung and heart) from the abdominal cavity (with liver, stomach, intestines, etc.). In its relaxed state, the diaphragm is shaped like a dome.

It is critically important in respiration: in order to draw air into the lungs, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure (the external intercostals muscles also participate in this enlargement). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled by elastic recoil of the lung and the tissues lining the thoracic cavity.
Courtesy of Wikipedia

Answer 4

What Does The Diaphragm Do

Answer 5

It is critically important in respiration: in order to draw air into the lungs, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure (the external intercostals muscles also participate in this enlargement). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled by elastic recoil of the lung and the tissues lining the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is also found in other vertebrates such as reptiles.

The diaphragm also helps to expel vomit, feces, and urine from the body by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

Answer 6

It is critically important in respiration: in order to draw air into the lungs, the diaphragm contracts, thus enlarging the thoracic cavity and reducing intra-thoracic pressure (the external intercostals muscles also participate in this enlargement). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled by elastic recoil of the lung and the tissues lining the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is also found in other vertebrates such as reptiles.

The diaphragm also helps to expel vomit, feces, and urine from the body by increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

Answer 7

No one can sing "through" their diaphragm. What you are speaking of is breath control, using the diaphragm muscle. When you inhale, (take in a breath)the shoulders don't rise up. They stay level in a normal position, however the abdomen swells out as you are taking in air. Then using the diaphragm muscles (your belly) push the air out from deep within you first. Tone quality and sustain can be controlled in a much more efficient way, than with regular breathing.

Answer 8

which diaphragm?
the diaphragm in the thorax helps you breathe while the contraceptive diaphragm covers the cervix (uterus/womb opening) to prevent entry of sperm.

Answer 9

a body partition of muscle and connective tissue; specifically : the partition separating the chest and abdominal cavities in mammals

Answer 10

Blocks the sperm from fertilizing the egg.