Mechanical Action of the Intercostal Muscles on the Ribs

• DOI: 10.1126/science.6828883
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T18:37:18Z
• Authors: André De Troyer; Suzanne Kelly; Walter A. Zin
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Intercostal Muscles -- anatomy & histology -- physiology; Respiration; Intercostal Muscles; Ribs; Sciences bio-médicales et agricoles; Electric Stimulation; Biomechanical Phenomena; 03 medical and health sciences; Dogs; Ribs -- anatomy & histology -- physiology; Animals; Humans; Biomechanics

The external and internal interosseous intercostal muscles were separately stimulated at end-expiratory lung volume in anesthetized dogs. These muscles were all found to elevate the ribs into which they insert. By attaching weights to the ribs, it was determined that the nonlinear compliance of the ribs was responsible for this phenomenon.