diaphragm
In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs.
Other meanings
Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.
A contraceptive device consisting of a flexible cup, used to cover the cervix during intercourse.
A kind of
- birth control device
Related words
- diaphragmitis
- diaphragmless
- hemidiaphragm
- microdiaphragm
- diaphragmal
- diaphragmic
- diaphragmatic
- diaphragmatically
- interdiaphragm
- diaphragm arch
- diaphragm pump
- diaphragm seal
Word history
From Ancient Greek "διάφραγμα" (partition).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “diaphragm” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.