diaphragm. 1  the partition of muscles and tendons that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity; midriff. 2  any membrane or partition that separates one thing from another. 3  a dividing wall at the node of a plant stem. 4  a device to regulate the amount of light entering the lens of a camera, microscope, etc. (anatomy) In mammals, a sheet of muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen, contracted and relaxed in respiration to draw air into and expel air from the lungs; also called thoracic diaphragm. ( 2 anatomy) Any of various membranes or sheets of muscle or ligament which separate one cavity from another.
Question: Who should I see about my back pain, a chiropractor or an orthopedist? Answer: Patients often ask if they can or should be seen by a chiropractor for the treatment of back pain. There have been a number of studies that show effective treatment of back pain by chiropractors. However, not all causes of back pain should be treated by a chiropractor.
While it is common to start off with a primary care provider (a medical doctor, chiropractor, or doctor of osteopathic medicine), if the patient's back pain is resistant to initial treatment then the services of a spine specialist may be necessary. In This Article: 1  Specialists Who Treat Back Pain.