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Do the left half and right halves of the diaphragm of a normal person move exactly the same distance between inhaling and exhaling?

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  • $\begingroup$ Did you check diaphragm muscle images? They are fairly symmetrical. $\endgroup$
    – bandybabboon
    Commented Apr 10, 2019 at 6:39

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A short answer is that the displacement of the right and left part of the diaphragm during breathing may not be the same.

ASYMMETRY

Thoracic diaphragm (Wikipedia):

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. There is also a theory that the diaphragm is lower on the other side due to the presence of the heart.

Genetic specification of left–right asymmetry in the diaphragm muscles and their motor innervation (PubMed):

The diaphragm muscle is essential for breathing in mammals. Its asymmetric elevation during contraction correlates with morphological features suggestive of inherent left–right (L/R) asymmetry.

EXCURSION

Excursion (displacement during breathing) of the right and left part of the diaphragm may or may not be the same, which may differ from case to case.

Manual evaluation of the diaphragm muscle (PubMed):

In most cases, the diaphragm shows a symmetrical respiratory excursion of ~2–10 cm...

Imaging of the Diaphragm: Anatomy and Function (RadioGraphics):

The excursion may be somewhat asymmetric and there may be a slight delay or lag on one side, typically the right.

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