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The muscles that enable breathing are located in various parts of the body. The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity, is the main muscle used for breathing. It is located below the lungs. The intercostal muscles, which are attached between the ribs, also play a crucial role in respiration. These muscles help manipulate the width of the rib cage during inhalation and exhalation. Other muscles involved in respiration include the abdominal muscles, neck muscles, and muscles of the face, mouth, and pharynx. These muscles work together to facilitate the expansion and contraction of the thoracic cavity, allowing air to move in and out of the lungs during the breathing cycle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main muscle used for breathing | Diaphragm |
| Location of diaphragm | Below the lungs, separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity |
| Shape of diaphragm | Dome-shaped |
| Function of diaphragm | Contracts during inhalation, relaxes during exhalation |
| Other names for intercostal muscles | Rib cage muscles, chest muscles |
| Types of intercostal muscles | External intercostal muscles, internal intercostal muscles, innermost intercostal muscles |
| Function of external intercostal muscles | Raising the rib cage, assisting in inhalation |
| Function of internal intercostal muscles | Altering the anteroposterior dimension of the chest cavity |
| Accessory muscles | Recruited during exercise or respiratory dysfunction |
| Neck muscles | Sternocleidomastoid, scalenes (anterior, middle, posterior), serratus anterior, pectoralis major and minor, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae |
| Abdominal muscles | Help with exhalation during physical activity |
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What You'll Learn
The diaphragm
During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattens, and the chest cavity enlarges. This contraction creates a vacuum, drawing air into the lungs. Upon exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its dome shape, and air is forced out of the lungs due to the elastic recoil of the lungs. The diaphragm is the primary muscle used for breathing, and its health is crucial to the respiratory system's functional capabilities.
Several conditions, diseases, and injuries can affect the diaphragm's functioning, leading to symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn, coughing, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. Some of these conditions include multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, spinal cord injuries, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Phrenic nerve damage from trauma or surgery is the most common cause of diaphragm problems.
To maintain the health of the diaphragm, special breathing exercises can be practised. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises help strengthen the diaphragm, improve muscle function, increase oxygen levels in the blood, and reduce blood pressure and heart rate. These exercises involve slow inhalation through the nose, causing the stomach to move out, followed by exhalation through pursed lips while tightening the stomach muscles.
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Intercostal muscles
There are three layers of intercostal muscles: external, internal, and innermost. The external intercostal muscles are the outermost layer and are the most superficial intercostal muscles. They lie directly under the skin, originating from the lower border of the rib above and inserting into the upper border of the rib below. They are responsible for elevating the ribs during forced inspiration, expanding the chest wall during inhalation. The contraction of these fibres raises each rib toward the rib above, with the overall effect of raising the rib cage, assisting in inhalation.
The internal intercostal muscles are the intermediate layer. They originate from the costal groove near the inferior border of the rib above and insert into the upper border of the rib below. They are responsible for depressing the ribs and bending them inward, thus decreasing the transverse dimensions of the thoracic cavity and helping to collapse the lung during expiration.
The innermost intercostal muscles are the deepest layer. They originate from the costal groove of one rib, posterior to the origin of the internal intercostals. They course in the same fashion as the internal intercostals, inserting into the superior border of the immediate rib below. They assist the internal and external intercostals in their function.
Intercostal muscle strain can occur due to overexertion, direct trauma, or repetitive torso twisting. Symptoms include pain, muscle tension and stiffness, and shallow breathing patterns to avoid pain, which may lead to reduced blood oxygenation.
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Abdominal muscles
The abdominal muscles are one of the three groups of respiratory muscles, the other two being the diaphragm and the rib cage muscles. The diaphragm is the major muscle responsible for breathing, but the abdominal muscles also play a role in respiration.
The abdominal muscles act on the abdomen and the abdominal rib cage and are expiratory. During inspiration, the rib cage muscles contract, and the abdominal muscles relax. During expiration, the abdominal muscles contract, and the rib cage muscles relax. This mechanism prevents rib cage distortion and allows the diaphragm to act as a flow generator. It also decreases the volume of the abdomen below resting levels.
The abdominal muscles are activated by increases in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV). They are responsible for protective reflexes such as coughing, sneezing, and vomiting. They also generate the high intra-abdominal pressures necessary for defecation and childbirth. The abdominal muscles are active during postural adjustments and play a role in vocalization in many species.
Abdominal tone reduces the compliance of the abdominal compartment, enabling the region in contact with the rib cage to act as a fulcrum for the expansion of the lower rib cage during inspiration. During expiration, the abdominal muscles help to force lung volume below the passive end-expiratory position, and the onset of the next inspiration is passive, resulting from the outward recoil of the respiratory system when the abdominal muscles relax.
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Neck and collarbone muscles
The muscles in the neck and collarbone area help with breathing. Neck muscles support the head and enable a range of movements, including chewing, swallowing, and breathing. They also help move your head and stabilize the bones in your neck (cervical spine).
There are three main categories of neck muscles: anterior (front), lateral (side), and posterior (back). Anterior neck muscles are arranged in four distinct regions, including superficial, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles. The scalene muscles move the first two ribs up and down, enabling the inhalation of air when you breathe. They also help move your head and stabilize the bones in your neck.
The lateral neck muscles control head movements from the base of the skull and help you twist your head from side to side and twist and tilt your cervical spine. Types of posterior neck muscles include superficial, suboccipital, and transversospinalis. The superficial muscles are strap-like muscles at the back of your neck that help you extend and rotate your head. The suboccipital muscles help extend your head in different directions, and the transversospinalis muscles help move your head forward and backward, as well as tilt it from side to side.
The collarbone, or clavicle, is the bone that connects the breastbone (sternum) to the shoulder. The collarbone is a fairly solid, slightly S-shaped bone. The thoracic outlet is the space between the collarbone and the first rib. Thoracic outlet syndrome is a term used for several conditions that occur when nerves and/or blood vessels in the thoracic outlet are compressed or irritated. Symptoms of this syndrome include vague, aching pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, or hand.
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Muscles of the face, mouth and pharynx
The muscles of the face, mouth, and pharynx are essential for controlling the lips, tongue, soft palate, and other structures to help with breathing. The face has about 20 flat skeletal muscles that attach to different places on the skull. These muscles are responsible for chewing and making facial expressions such as smiling, pouting, or raising eyebrows. They are also involved in more complex functions like singing and whistling.
The muscles of the mouth, or the buccolabial group, form a broad group of muscles that control the shape and movement of the mouth and lips. There are 11 of these muscles, including the orbicularis oris, a circular composite muscle that surrounds the mouth and forms the majority of the lips. It closes the lips and narrows the oral opening. The buccinator muscle compresses the cheek and is located between the mandible and maxilla.
The platysma muscle, which is around the neck, helps open the mouth and allows the corners of the mouth and lower lip to be lowered. The nasal muscles around the nose include the procerus, which is between the eyebrows and can pull them downward, helping to flare the nostrils. The orbital muscles surround the eyes, with the corrugator supercilii enabling frowning.
The pharynx is the part of the throat right behind the mouth. Problems with the muscles in this area can narrow the airway and make it more difficult to breathe.
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Frequently asked questions
The diaphragm is the main muscle used for breathing.
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located below the lungs, separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.
Yes, there are three types of intercostal muscles (external, internal, and innermost) that are attached between the ribs and help in inhalation and exhalation. Other accessory muscles include the sternocleidomastoid and scalenes.
During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts, moving downward and causing the ribs to move upward and outward, thus expanding the chest cavity and drawing air into the lungs. During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes, and the elastic recoil of the lungs causes the chest cavity to contract, forcing air out of the lungs. The intercostal muscles assist in this process by manipulating the width of the rib cage.
