What is the role of the diaphragm in respiration?

The diaphragm plays a crucial role in the process of respiration, specifically in facilitating air movement into the lungs. This dome-shaped muscle located beneath the lungs contracts and flattens during inhalation, which creates a negative pressure in the thoracic cavity. As this pressure decreases, air is drawn into the lungs through the airways. The expansion of the lungs allows oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to be expelled during exhalation when the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its original dome shape, pushing the air out of the lungs.

Understanding this function is essential for grasping how the mechanics of breathing work. The diaphragm is the primary muscle involved in respiration, making it a key player in the ventilation process, and its contraction and relaxation directly control the airflow in and out of the lungs.