diaphragm

Definition

Diaphragms are dome-shaped barrier methods of contraception that block sperm from entering the uterus. They are made of latex (rubber) and formed like a shallow cup. Since vaginas vary in size, each patient will need to be fitted by a doctor or nurse with a diaphragm that conforms to the shape and contour of the vagina as well as the strength of the muscles in the vaginal walls. Diaphragms must be used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The device should cause no discomfort, and neither the woman nor her partner should feel that it is there.

Description

Prior to insertion, the inside of the dome and the rim are covered with a thick layer (perhaps a tablespoon) of a spermicide that is compatible with the diaphragm being used. The domed area covers the opening into the uterus (cervix) and keeps the spermicide in place. As a result, any sperm that might get under the diaphragm will be destroyed.

Diaphragms may be inserted two to three hours prior to intercourse, and must be left in place for six to eight hours following sexual relations. During this time the woman may not swim, bathe, or douche, but she may shower. If she desires to have intercourse again before the six to eight hours have passed, the diaphragm should not be removed. Instead, an applicator full of spermicide should be deposited into the vagina.

A diaphragm will last for a year or more. It should be examined weekly for holes. This can be done by holding it up to the light or filling it with water.

— Donald G. Barstow, RN

1. Anatomy. A muscular membranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration. Also called midriff.
2. A membranous part that divides or separates.
3. A thin disk, especially in a microphone or telephone receiver, that vibrates in response to sound waves to produce electric signals, or that vibrates in response to electric signals to produce sound waves.
4. A contraceptive device consisting of a thin flexible disk, usually made of rubber, that is designed to cover the uterine cervix to prevent the entry of sperm during sexual intercourse.
5. A disk having a fixed or variable opening used to restrict the amount of light traversing a lens or optical system.

[Middle English diafragma, from Late Latin diaphragma, midriff, from Greek, partition, from diaphrassein, to barricade : dia-, intensive pref.; see dia- + phrassein, phrag-, to enclose.]

The term has come to be applied to any thin partition, either in a man-made instrument or in biology. But the original meaning from the Greek referred more to hedging around or fencing in; that meaning is well fitted by the contraceptive diaphragm: a thin rubber cup which fences in the neck of the womb against invasion by sperm.

The human anatomical diaphragm is a part muscle, part tendinous sheet, convex upwards, that separates the thorax from the abdomen. It is described as doubly ‘domed’, accommodating below it the liver on the right and the stomach and spleen on the left. It is attached to the inside of the lower margin of the ‘rib cage’: from the sternum (breast bone) in front, the cartilages interposed between this and the lower ribs around the sides, to reach the vertebral column behind. It is a complete partition except for openings to allow passage between thorax and abdomen: for the oesophagus to join the stomach, for the main artery (aorta) and for the main vein (inferior vena cava) that carry blood to and from the lower body, and for nerves and lymphatics vessels.

When the muscle of the diaphragm contracts, its convexity is flattened. This, together with other mechanical factors and muscular actions, causes an increase in the capacity of the thorax, which in turn draws air into the lungs. The motor nerve supply to the diaphragm comes to its upper surface in the phrenic nerves from each side of the neck. These carry the rhythmic bursts of impulses, relayed from the brain stem via the phrenic motor neurons in the spinal cord, which cause regular inspiration. Each time these stop, the diaphragm relaxes and rises, and air leaves the lungs. Although this cyclical control of the diaphragm and other breathing muscles occurs automatically, it is of course possible to control them voluntarily — to stop, start, or deepen breathing. The extent to which the diaphragm is used relative to the muscles of the thorax can also come under voluntary control, by selecting ‘abdominal’ breathing rather than chest expansion.

— Sheila Jennett

See respiratory system. See also breathing.

1. a musculotendinous partition that separates the thorax and abdomen. n 2. a metal barrier plate, often of lead, pierced with a central aperture so arranged as to limit the emerging, or useful, beam of roentgen rays to the smallest practical diameter for making radiographic exposures. See also collimation; collimator; distance, cone.

For more information on diaphragm, visit Britannica.com.

1. A diaphragm plate.
2. A floor slab, metal wall panel, roof panel, or the like, having a sufficiently large in-plane shear stiffness and sufficient strength to transmit horizontal forces to resisting systems.

1. A sheet of muscle and tendon between the abdominal cavity and the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm is attached on each side to the inferior border of the ribcage, in front to the sternum, and at the back to the vertebrae. Its insertion consists of a boomerang-shaped central tendon. The diaphragm plays an important role in breathing: contraction of the diaphragm increases the volume of the thoracic cavity, drawing air into the lungs; relaxation and elastic recoil of the diaphragm decreases the volume of the thoracic cavity, pumping air out. When the diaphragm contracts strongly, it increases the intrabdominal pressure. This may help to support the backbone and reduce flexion of the spine when lifting heavy weights.

2. Any partition or wall separating one body area from another.

A dome-shaped structure made up of muscle and connective tissue that separates the abdominal cavity from the thorax and functions in respiration. By movement of the diaphragm, air is either drawn into the lungs or forced out of them.

Pertaining to the diaphragm.

• d. abscess — in the cow produces a syndrome of humped back, pain on percussion over the xiphoid area, fever and leukocytosis.
• d. hernia — in cattle, cases resulting from traumatic reticulitis show chronic ruminal tympany, distention, emaciation, anterior displacement of the heart with systolic murmur. Congenital cases in calves and those in cows due to trauma show dyspnea, displacement of the heart, and gut sounds audible in the chest. Horse cases are usually traumatic in origin and result in an acute onset of severe colic with no good distinguishing signs. In dogs and cats, uncommonly congenital but a common sequela to trauma with signs of dyspnea and pleural effusion. See also peritoneopericardial hernia.
• d. rupture — see diaphragmatic hernia (above).
• d. septal defects — include pleuroperitoneal and pericardioperitoneal defects.
• synchronous d. flutter — violent, unilateral hiccoughs occur with each heartbeat, sometimes with muscle tetany reminiscent of lactation tetany; some cases of that disease also have flutter. Acid–base imbalance is present in most cases. Recovery is spontaneous and following treatment with calcium solutions.
• d. tendon — the heart-shaped tendinous center of the diaphragm.

n.

A muscular partition separating disorders of the chest from disorders of the bowels.

Tutor's tip: A "diagram" (a plan, a drawing, or a sketch) of the patient's chest showed where the "diaphragm" (diaphragm) is located.

Look up diaphragm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Contents 1 Anatomy 2 Optics and photography 3 Acoustics 4 Other 5 See also

Diaphragm may refer to any of the following:

Anatomy

• Thoracic diaphragm, a tissue of muscle separating the thorax and abdomen of mammals
• Urogenital diaphragm, a layer of the pelvis separating deep perineal sac from the upper pelvis
• Pelvic diaphragm, a pelvic muscle consisting of the Levator ani and the Coccygeus
• A number of structures that act as diaphragms, including the iris and the eardrum
• Any dividing structure; for example, in gasteromycetes and bryozoans, with a sense similar to that of septum is part of your stomach

Optics and photography

• Diaphragm (optics), a stop in the light path of a lens, having an aperture that regulates the amount of light that passes
• Diaphragm shutter, a type of optical shutter

Acoustics

• Diaphragm (acoustics), a thin, semi-rigid membrane that vibrates to produce or transmit sound waves

Other

• Diaphragm (contraceptive), a small rubber dome placed in the vagina to wall off the cervix, thus preventing sperm from entering
• Diaphragm (mechanical device), a sheet of a semi-flexible material anchored at its periphery
• Diaphragm seal, a membrane that seals an enclosure
• Diaphragm pump, a type of pump
• Diaphragm arch, a type of arch
• Diaphragm wall, a type of wall
• Diaphragm valve, a type of valve
• Diaphragm (structural system), a structural engineering system used to resist lateral loads

See also

• Lamina
• Membrane

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - mellemgulv, membran, skillevæg, pessar

Nederlands (Dutch)
diafragma (middenrif), pessarium, lensopening

Français (French)
n. - diaphragme, cage thoracique, bouchon

Deutsch (German)
n. - Zwerchfell, Scheidewand, Pessar, Blende, Membran

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ανατ.) διάφραγμα (της πυέλου), (μηχαν.) διάφραγμα, μεμβράνη, (οπτ.) διάφραγμα, κολπικό διάφραγμα

Italiano (Italian)
diaframma

Português (Portuguese)
n. - diafragma (m)

Русский (Russian)
диафрагма

Español (Spanish)
n. - diafragma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - diafragma, skiljevägg, pessar

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
横隔膜, 光圈

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 橫隔膜, 光圈

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 횡경막, 분리벽, 조리개

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 横隔膜, 振動板, ペッサリー, 絞り

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الحجاب الحاجز ( في جسم الإنسان), جدار عضلي يفصل بين الصدر والمعدة ويساعد على السيطرة على التنفس, صفيحه رقيقه من شئ, طلبه التلفون ( قرص متذبذب يكون في سماعه التلفون)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סרעפת, צמצם, דיאפרגמה, פרגוד דק במצלמה‬

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