What do intercostal muscles do?

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Prepare for the CIEMT Medical and Physiology Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions that feature explanations. Ace your test!

Multiple Choice

What do intercostal muscles do?

Explanation:
Intercostal muscles change the volume of the chest cavity to enable breathing. The muscles between the ribs contract to lift and widen the rib cage during inhalation, increasing thoracic volume and drawing air into the lungs. Some intercostals, particularly the internal ones, help with expiration by pulling the ribs downward to reduce chest volume during forced breathing. Because their primary role is to assist the act of breathing, they are best described as helping respiration. They don’t regulate digestion or heart rate.

Intercostal muscles change the volume of the chest cavity to enable breathing. The muscles between the ribs contract to lift and widen the rib cage during inhalation, increasing thoracic volume and drawing air into the lungs. Some intercostals, particularly the internal ones, help with expiration by pulling the ribs downward to reduce chest volume during forced breathing. Because their primary role is to assist the act of breathing, they are best described as helping respiration. They don’t regulate digestion or heart rate.

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