Background　Previous studies found that sepsis can lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction, and thus aggravate respiratory failure. there were no effective clinical treatment to ameliorate sepsis-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction.　Objective　Pathophysiologic process related to diaphragmatic dysfunction is quite complicated in sepsis, pathogenesis is not fully revealed. This paperreviewed the mechanisms of related researches in recent years, aiming to provide references for clinical treatment.　Content　The pathogenesis responsible for sepsis-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction may be related to diaphragmatic protein degradation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokine release.　Trend　With further researches of sepsis-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction, it is expected to provide new potential targets for clinical therapy.