what is the diaphragm muscle

The diaphragm is the dome-shaped sheet of muscle and tendon that serves as the main muscle of respiration and plays a vital role in the breathing process.

Also known as the thoracic diaphragm, it serves as an important anatomical landmark that separates the thorax, or chest, from the abdomen.

The origins of the diaphragm are found along the lumbar vertebrae of the spine and the inferior border of the ribs and sternum.