From Greek diaphragma 'partition,' from dia- 'across' + phrassein 'to fence in,' naming the muscle that walls off the chest.
The dome-shaped muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen, essential for breathing.
From Greek diaphragma 'partition, barrier,' from dia- 'across' + phragma 'fence, enclosure,' from phrassein 'to fence in.' Galen used the term for the muscle because it fences off the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Key roots: *bʰreg- (Proto-Indo-European: "to break, fence in").