THORACIC WALL

Syed Farhad Ali Lecturer Radiology

Professional college of Medical Sciences,
Peshawar
Intercostals Muscles
The spaces between the rib contain 3 muscles of
respiration
1. External intercostal muscles
2. Internal intercostal muscles
3. Innermost intercostal muscles
External Intercostal Muscles
Origin lower border of rib above
Insertion Upper border of rib below
Artery Intercostal arteries
Nerve Intercostal nerves
Action Inhalation
it is the most superficial of all the intercostal muscles its
fibers are directed downwards and forward from the
inferior border of the rib above to the superior border
of the rib below.
They are thicker than the internal intercostals, and their
fibers are directed obliquely downward.
The external intercostal muscles connect the ribs in such
a way that the contraction of the muscles lifts the ribs
and rib cage and expands the anterior–posterior
dimensions of the rib cage. They originate on ribs 1-11
and have their insertion on ribs 2-12.
Internal Intercostal muscles
Origin lower border of rib above
Insertion upper border of rib below
Artery intercostasl arteries
Nerve intercostal nerves
Action exhalation
The internal intercostal muscles are responsible for
forced exhalation. They depress the ribs and decrease
space in the chest cavity.
Innermost intercostal Muscles
Origin Adjacent ribs
Insertion Adjacent ribs
Nerve supply intercostal nerve
Arterial supply intercostal arteries
Action Assists internal and External
intercostal muscles. Depress
ribs during forced expiration;
Support intercostal spaces and thoracic cage.
Innermost intercostals comprise the third and deepest
layer of intercostal muscles. They are located deep to
the internal and external intercostals.
The functions of the innermost intercostals are similar
to those of internal intercostals; they assist breathing
 by depressing the ribs and support the integrity of
the thoracic cage.