The correct answer to this question is diaphragm. It is the main muscle used in the process of respiration, which is breathing. The diaphragm is in the shape of a dome and it is located underneath the heart and lungs. As one breathes in and out, the diaphragm flattens and contracts.
This muscle is thin and when one exales, the muscle relaxes. Other functions of the diaphragm include helping the body discard feces, urine, and vomit by increasing the abdominal pressure, and it prevents acid reflux. The diaphragm has three large openings, which include the esophageal, aortic, and caval opening.
M. Porter, Senior Executive, Master of Art, San Jose
Answered May 30, 2019
The diaphragm is the primary muscle used in respiration during the process of breathing. It is a thin, skeletal muscle that sits at the base of the chest. It contracts and flattens when you inhale, which creates a vacuum effect that pulls air into the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes as it is removed back into the lungs. The membrane also increases abdominal pressure to allow the body to expel vomit, urine, and feces, and the muscle also helps to prevent acid reflux.
The diaphragm also comes with first openings which allow specific structures to pass between the chest and the abdomen. These openings include the esophageal opening, which helps with digestion, aortic opening to transport blood from the heart, and the caval opportunity to carry blood to the heart.