The diaphragm, a shelf of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, is critical to sustaining life. A life-threatening birth defect known as congenital diaphragmatic hernia ...

To breathe normally, people need more than just healthy lungs. A diaphragm - the large muscle that creates a vacuum to draw air into their lungs - is also crucial. Birth defects in the diaphragm, such ...

Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD Key Takeaways The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing. The diaphragm helps ...