diaphragm
CEFR: B2
A major dome-shaped muscular and membranous partition separating the thoracic chest cavity from the abdomen.
Synonyms
- midriff septum
- respiratory muscle
Common Collocations
- horizontal diaphragm
- contract the diaphragm
- muscular diaphragm
Example Sentence
In marine sirenians, the diaphragm extends almost horizontally along the length of the spine to optimize lung volume.