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The muscles that enable us to breathe are called the muscles of respiration. They are divided into three groups: inspiratory muscles, expiratory muscles, and accessory muscles of respiration. The diaphragm is the major muscle of inspiration, and it accounts for approximately 70% of the inhaled tidal volume in a normal individual. The intercostal muscles and neck muscles help move the rib cage and assist in breathing. During exercise, expiratory muscles play an active role in breathing. The abdominal muscles are the most important of these.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary inspiratory muscles | Diaphragm, external intercostals |
| Accessory inspiratory muscles | Sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, medius, and posterior, pectoralis major and minor, serratus anterior and latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior superior, iliocostalis cervicis |
| Accessory expiratory muscles | Rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, iliocostalis, longissimus, serratus posterior inferior, quadratus lumborum |
| Muscles that raise the rib cage | External intercostal muscles |
| Muscles that control nostril movement | Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi |
| Muscles that control the upper airway | Abductors of the vocal cords, palatal elevators, retractors of the tongue, dilators of the nares |
| Muscles that control the flow of air during respiration | Facial muscles, shoulder girdle, arm fixators |
| Neural control of breathing | Dorsal respiratory group, ventral respiratory group, pre-Botzinger complex, parafacial respiratory group |
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What You'll Learn
The diaphragm
During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes, and air is pushed out of the lungs. The abdominal muscles contract, raising abdominal pressure, and pushing the diaphragm against the lungs, aiding in expelling air. The diaphragm is considered the primary muscle for inhalation, and its movement is controlled by the phrenic nerve, which runs from the neck to the diaphragm.
Several conditions can affect the diaphragm's function, including neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and ALS, as well as diabetes-related neuropathy, spinal cord injuries, and lung issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Weakness or paralysis of the diaphragm can lead to symptoms such as acid reflux, heartburn, coughing, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain.
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises can help strengthen the diaphragm and improve its efficiency. These exercises involve inhaling deeply and slowly through the nose, allowing the lungs to fill with air as the belly expands. They can also reduce stress and lower blood pressure.
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Intercostal muscles
The intercostal muscles comprise many different groups of muscles that run between the ribs, helping to form and move the chest wall. They are divided into three layers of muscles: external, internal, and innermost. The external intercostal muscles are the outermost layer that lies directly under the skin. They originate from the lower border of the rib above and insert into the upper border of the rib below. They are responsible for the elevation of the ribs during forced inspiration, expanding the chest wall during 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 help to collapse the lungs during expiration, depressing the ribs and bending them inward, thus decreasing the transverse dimensions of the thoracic cavity.
The innermost intercostal muscles are the deepest layer, crossing more than one intercostal space. They assist the internal and external intercostals in their function. They originate from the costal groove of one rib and insert into the superior border of the immediate rib below.
Intercostal muscle strain can occur due to overexertion, direct trauma from accidents or contact sports, or repetitive torso twisting. Symptoms include pain, muscle tension and stiffness, inflammation, and a short shallow breathing pattern to avoid pain, which may lead to reduced blood oxygenation.
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Expiratory muscles
Exhalation, or expiration, is usually a passive process during quiet breathing. It occurs due to the elastic recoil of the lungs and chest wall, which are actively stretched during inhalation. However, during vigorous breathing, such as during exercise, expiration becomes an active process involving the contraction of expiratory muscles.
The primary expiratory muscles are the internal intercostal muscles and the abdominal muscles. The internal intercostal muscles function to decrease the size of the rib cage during expiration. The contraction of these muscles pulls the upper rib down, reducing the chest cavity volume.
The abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis, are the most important expiratory muscles. They contract during vigorous breathing to raise abdominal pressure and push a relaxed diaphragm against the lungs, causing air to be exhaled.
During expiration, the abdominal muscles and internal intercostal muscles contract while the diaphragm relaxes. This mechanism prevents rib cage distortion, unloads the diaphragm, and optimises the mechanics of breathing. It also reduces end-expiratory lung volume and transpulmonary pressure while increasing inspiratory muscle capacity.
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Accessory muscles
During normal breathing, inspiration is an active process due to the diaphragm, with contributions from abdominal and external intercostal muscles. Exhalation, on the other hand, is typically a passive process due to the elastic recoil of the lungs and rib cage. However, during vigorous exercise, the expiratory muscles, including the abdominal muscles, become actively involved in exhalation.
The accessory inspiratory muscles include the sternocleidomastoid, the scalenus anterior, medius, and posterior, the pectoralis major and minor, the serratus anterior and serratus posterior superior, and the latissimus dorsi. These muscles help to lift the third, fourth, and fifth ribs, increasing space in the lungs for inhalation.
The accessory expiratory muscles are the abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis. They contract during exercise, raising abdominal pressure and pushing the diaphragm against the lungs to expel air.
In certain situations, such as in infants or individuals with respiratory conditions, the accessory muscles may be recruited during typical breathing. For example, in individuals with COPD, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles are at a disadvantage due to over-inflation of the lungs, leading to the use of accessory muscles to compensate.
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Abdominal muscles
The abdominal muscles are a group of expiratory muscles that act on the abdomen and the abdominal rib cage. They are the most important muscles involved in breathing out, or exhaling. During exhalation, the abdominal muscles contract, raising abdominal pressure and pushing a relaxed diaphragm against the lungs, causing air to be pushed out.
The abdominal muscles are also involved in breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing, which is a deep breathing exercise that may help with anxiety and breathing problems. Diaphragmatic breathing involves inhaling slowly through the nose, drawing the breath down towards the stomach, and then exhaling by tightening the abdominal muscles and letting the stomach fall downward while exhaling through pursed lips. This type of breathing exercise helps to train the diaphragm to open up the lungs, allowing the body to breathe more efficiently.
The abdominal muscles that are specifically involved in exhalation include the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis. During exercise, the expiratory muscles, including the abdominal muscles, play an active role in breathing. While the rib cage muscles contract during inspiration, the abdominal muscles gradually relax, and vice versa during expiration. This mechanism prevents rib cage distortion, unloads the diaphragm, and decreases the volume of the abdomen below resting levels.
Overall, the abdominal muscles play a crucial role in exhalation, working in coordination with the inspiratory muscles to ensure efficient breathing during rest and exercise.
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Frequently asked questions
The diaphragm is the major muscle of inspiration and is responsible for breathing in (inhalation). It is a thin, dome-shaped muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. The intercostal muscles and neck muscles help move the rib cage and assist in breathing.
The accessory muscles of respiration assist in breathing but do not play a primary role. These include the sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, medius, and posterior, pectoralis major and minor, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi.
The abdominal muscles are the most important muscles that control exhalation. They contract, raise abdominal pressure, and push a relaxed diaphragm against the lungs, causing air to be pushed out.
The diaphragm and external intercostals are the primary muscles that control inhalation. The accessory inspiratory muscles include the sternocleidomastoid, scalenus anterior, pectoralis major and minor, and serratus anterior.
The dorsal respiratory group sends impulses through the phrenic nerve to the diaphragm and through the intercostal nerves to the external intercostal muscles to initiate breathing.
