What is the role of the diaphragm in the respiratory system?
A. Pumps blood
B. Filters air
C. Moves food
D. Helps with breathing
Answer (1)
The correct answer is D. Helps with breathing The diaphragm is a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs, and its main role in the respiratory system is to facilitate breathing. It plays a crucial part in the mechanics of inhalation and exhalation.When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, increasing the volume of the chest cavity. This expansion creates negative pressure that pulls air into the lungs. As the lungs fill with air, oxygen enters the alveoli and diffuses into the blood.When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its dome shape, decreasing the volume of the chest cavity and pushing air (rich in carbon dioxide) out of the lungs. This cycle is continuous and largely involuntary — we breathe even when we’re asleep, thanks to the rhythmic contractions of the diaphragm controlled by the medulla oblongata in the brainstem.The diaphragm is also involved in other functions such as vomiting, coughing, and even crying. Any damage or weakness to the diaphragm (due to trauma, nerve injury, or disease like muscular dystrophy) can seriously impair breathing and may require medical intervention.In contrast:The heart pumps blood.The nose filters air, not the diaphragm.The esophagus moves food, not air.
