Logan Steele
Intercostal muscles are a group of intrinsic rib cage muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces between the ribs. They are divided into three groups: external, internal, and innermost intercostals. These muscles support the rib cage and are accessory respiratory muscles, aiding in the process of inhalation and exhalation. Intercostal muscle strains can occur due to trauma, overexertion, or direct impact, causing pain, tenderness, and inflammation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Muscles that present within the rib cage |
| Location | Between the ribs |
| Number of Groups | 3 |
| Types of Groups | External, Internal, Innermost |
| Function | Involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing by helping expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity |
| Blood Supply | Anterior and posterior intercostal arteries, costocervical trunk, internal thoracic and musculophrenic arteries |
| Innervation | Intercostal nerves |
| Injury Causes | Weakened muscles, overexertion of muscles, direct trauma, repetitive torso twisting |
| Symptoms of Strain | Pain, difficulty breathing, tenderness, inflammation, swelling |
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What You'll Learn
Intercostal muscle strain
The intercostal muscles are a group of muscles located between the ribs, and they play a crucial role in respiratory function and structural support for the chest wall. Intercostal muscle strain refers to an injury to these intercostal muscles, causing pain and potentially impairing an individual's ability to breathe comfortably. This condition is often caused by sudden twisting or bending, coughing violently, or direct impact to the chest. Individuals involved in sports that require sudden changes in direction or those with prolonged coughing from respiratory infections are at higher risk of developing intercostal muscle strain.
When an intercostal muscle strain occurs, individuals typically experience sharp pain in the chest or rib cage area, which may worsen with breathing, coughing, or laughing. The pain can vary from mild discomfort to severe, depending on the grade of the strain. Strains are graded from mild (grade 1) to severe (grade 3), based on the extent of muscle damage. In more severe cases, individuals may notice bruising or swelling in the affected area.
To treat intercostal muscle strain, it is important to first confirm the diagnosis with a medical professional, especially if the pain is severe or persistent. Initial treatment usually involves rest and avoiding activities that aggravate the pain. Applying ice packs to the affected area can help reduce inflammation and pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be recommended to manage pain and swelling.
As the acute pain subsides, individuals can begin gentle rib cage stretching exercises and gradual breathing exercises to improve lung function and promote healing. Deep breathing exercises can help expand and contract the rib cage, improving flexibility and strengthening the intercostal muscles. It is important to start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of the exercises as tolerated.
In more severe cases or for athletes seeking a faster recovery, additional treatment options may be considered. This could include physical therapy, where a qualified therapist guides the individual through specific exercises to improve chest mobility and strengthen the intercostal muscles. Soft tissue therapy techniques, such as myofascial release or trigger point therapy, may also be beneficial in reducing muscle tension and promoting healing.
The recovery time for intercostal muscle strain can vary depending on the severity of the injury and the individual's overall health. Most mild to moderate strains heal within a few weeks with proper rest and gradual rehabilitation. However, severe strains may take longer to resolve, and individuals should gradually return to their usual activities to prevent re-injury. It is always advisable to seek guidance from a healthcare professional to ensure a safe and complete recovery.
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The three types of intercostal muscles
Intercostal muscles are a group of intrinsic rib cage muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces. They are divided into three groups, from superficial to deep: external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles. All three groups of muscles support the rib cage and are accessory respiratory muscles that participate in the process of forced breathing.
The external intercostal muscles, also known as intercostalis externus, are the outermost layer of intercostal muscles. They lie directly under the skin and originate from the lower border of the rib above, running obliquely and inserting into the upper border of the rib below. The external intercostals are responsible for elevating the ribs and bending them open, thus expanding the chest wall during inhalation or forced inspiration. They are innervated by the anterior rami of spinal nerves T1-T11, or the intercostal nerves of the corresponding intercostal space. The blood supply to the external intercostals comes from the anterior and posterior intercostal arteries.
The internal intercostal muscles, or intercostalis internus, form the middle layer of the intercostal musculature. They originate from the costal groove of one rib and insert into the superior border of the rib below. The internal intercostals aid in forced expiration by depressing the ribs and reducing the thoracic volume. Their blood supply comes from the anterior and posterior intercostal arteries, as well as from the costocervical trunk, internal thoracic, and musculophrenic arteries. They are innervated by the intercostal nerves, the same as the external intercostals.
The innermost intercostal muscles, or musculi intercostales intimi, are the deepest layer of the intercostal muscles. They originate from the costal groove of one rib, posteriorly to the origin of the internal intercostals, and insert into the superior border of the rib below. The innermost intercostals assist the internal and external intercostals in their functions, aiding in forced expiration. Their blood supply and innervation follow the same pattern as the internal intercostals.
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Innermost intercostal muscles
The intercostal muscles are groups of intrinsic rib cage muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces between the ribs. They are divided into three groups: external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles.
The innermost intercostal muscles, or Musculi intercostales intimi, are the deepest of the three groups of intercostal muscles. They originate from the costal groove of one rib, posterior to the origin of the internal intercostals. They follow the same course as the internal intercostals, moving inferomedially, and insert themselves into the superior border of the rib below.
The innermost intercostals have the same vascularization and innervation patterns as the internal intercostals. Their blood supply comes from the anterior and posterior intercostal arteries, as well as the costocervical trunk, internal thoracic arteries, and musculophrenic arteries.
The function of the innermost intercostal muscles is to assist in depressing the ribs during forced expiration, along with the internal intercostals. They also help the external and internal intercostals in their functions. Deficient innermost intercostal muscles may lead to respiratory insufficiency due to improper tension in the intercostal spaces, resulting in internal and external movements of the chest wall during thoracic pressure changes.
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Function of intercostal muscles
The intercostal muscles are a group of intrinsic rib cage muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces between the ribs. They are divided into three groups, from superficial to deep: external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles. All three groups of muscles support the rib cage and are accessory respiratory muscles that participate in the process of forced breathing.
The external intercostal muscles, or intercostalis externus, aid in quiet and forced inhalation. They originate on ribs 1–11 and insert on ribs 2–12. During inspiration, these muscles contract and raise the lateral part of the ribs, increasing the transverse diameter of the thorax. This results in the expansion of the chest wall and the rib cage during inhalation. The muscle fibres are directed downwards, forwards, and medially in the anterior part, and downward and outward in the back.
The internal intercostal muscles, or intercostalis internus, aid in forced expiration, while quiet expiration is a passive process. They originate on ribs 2–12 and have insertions on the ribs below. These muscles depress the ribs and subsequently reduce the thoracic volume during forced expiration. They extend from the sternum anteriorly to the rib cage posteriorly, where they continue as the posterior (internal) intercostal membrane. The internal intercostals run upward and forward, so their action is to lower the ribs to which they are attached.
The innermost intercostal muscles, or musculi intercostales intimi, are the deepest intercostal muscles. They originate from the costal groove of one rib and insert onto the superior border of the rib below. These muscles assist in the depression of ribs during forced expiration, aiding the internal intercostals in their function. They cross more than one intercostal space and are lined internally by the endothoracic fascia.
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Intercostal nerves
Intercostal muscles are the muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces between the ribs. They are divided into three groups: external, internal, and innermost intercostal muscles. These muscles support the rib cage and are involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing by helping to expand and shrink the chest cavity.
The intercostal nerves are part of the somatic nervous system and arise from the anterior rami of the thoracic spinal nerves from T1 to T11. They are distributed to the thoracic pleura and abdominal peritoneum. The intercostal nerves are mixed nerves, carrying motor and sensory fibres. Their main function is to provide segmental supply to the structures of the thoracic wall and abdominal wall.
The first two intercostal nerves supply fibres to the upper limb and thorax; the next four distribute to the walls of the thorax; the lower five supply the walls of the thorax and abdomen. The seventh intercostal nerve ends at the xyphoid process of the sternum, while the tenth intercostal nerve terminates at the navel. The twelfth nerve, located below the last rib, is called the subcostal nerve.
The intercostal nerves enter their corresponding intercostal space between the posterior intercostal membrane and the parietal pleura. They then course anteriorly in the costal grooves alongside their corresponding intercostal artery and vein. The majority of intercostal nerves follow a similar pattern, but there are some differences. The intercostal nerves are grouped into typical and atypical nerves, with the typical nerves running solely in their own intercostal spaces, while the atypical nerves supply other regions beyond the thoracic wall.
The intercostal nerves carry sympathetic innervation to structures such as sweat glands and blood vessels in the thoracic and abdominal walls. They also aid in the contraction of muscles and the return of sensory information from the skin and parietal pleura.
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Frequently asked questions
Intercostal muscles are a group of intrinsic rib cage muscles that occupy the 11 intercostal spaces between the ribs. They are divided into three groups: external, internal, and innermost intercostals.
The intercostal muscles are primarily involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing by helping to expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity. The external intercostals aid in quiet and forced inhalation, while the internal intercostals aid in forced expiration.
The external intercostals are the outermost layer of intercostal muscles, lying directly under the skin. They originate from the inferior border of one rib and insert into the superior border of the rib below, expanding the chest wall during inhalation. The internal intercostals, on the other hand, form the intermediate layer and help collapse the lung during expiration.
The innermost intercostal muscles, also known as intercostalis intimus, are the deepest layer of intercostal muscles. They assist the internal and external intercostals in their functions.
