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The diaphragm is a convex shaped muscle (convex side within the chest cavity).

When the diaphragm muscle contracts it flattens out and drops down out of the chest cavity making more room and creating a vacuum -- air then rushes into the lungs.

When the diaphragm relaxes it moves back up into the chest cavity and expels the air on the lungs. During inhalation, the increased volume of the lungs causes the ribcage to expand. Inhalation - Diaphragm CONTRACTS and moves DOWN (to allow more space in the chest cavity for lungs to expand).

Exhalation - Diaphragm RELAXES and moves UP (to force air out of the lungs).

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16y ago

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