can refer to other flat structures such as the urogenital diaphragm or pelvic diaphragm, but "the diaphragm" generally refers to the thoracic diaphragm. In humans, the diaphragm is slightly asymmetric--its right half is higher up (superior) to the left half, since the large liver rests beneath the right half of the diaphragm.

Other mammals have diaphragms, and other vertebrates such as