Diaphragm And Lungs: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image

Home » When Does The Diaphragm Contract » Diaphragm And Lungs: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image

Maybe your like

Skip navigation

Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You Are Here: Home → Medical Encyclopedia → Diaphragm and lungs URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19380.htm Diaphragm and lungs Diaphragm and lungs

Overview

The diaphragm, located below the lungs, is the major muscle of respiration. It is a large, dome-shaped muscle that contracts rhythmically and continually, and most of the time, involuntarily. Upon inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattens and the chest cavity enlarges. This contraction creates a vacuum, which pulls air into the lungs. Upon exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its domelike shape, and air is forced out of the lungs.

Review Date 4/1/2025

Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

Learn how to cite this page

Tag » When Does The Diaphragm Contract