1. relating to or affecting the diaphragm, the muscle that controls breathing
Usage: medical/anatomical term
2. relating to the mind or mental processes
Usage: archaic or formal

Examples

• The phrenic nerve controls the movement of the diaphragm during breathing.
• Damage to the phrenic nerve can result in paralysis of the diaphragm.
• The surgeon carefully avoided the phrenic nerve during the procedure.
• Phrenic exercises help strengthen the breathing muscles.
• In older texts, 'phrenic' was sometimes used to mean relating to the mind or intellect.