External intercostal muscles

The external intercostal muscles, or external intercostals (Intercostales externi) are eleven in number on both sides.

External intercostal muscles
Position of the external intercostal muscles (shown in red) seen from the back.
Details
OriginLower border of ribs
InsertionUpper border of rib below
Arteryintercostal arteries
Nerveintercostal nerves
ActionsInhalation
Antagonistintercostales interni muscles
Identifiers
Latinmusculi intercostales externi
TAA04.4.01.012
FMA74084
Anatomical terms of muscle

Structure

A cutout of the thoracic wall showing the three layers of intercostal muscle - from the left wall.

The muscles extend from the tubercles of the ribs behind, to the cartilages of the ribs in front, where they end in thin membranes, the external intercostal membranes, which are continued forward to the sternum. These muscles work in unison when inhalation occurs. The internal intercostal muscles relax while the external muscles contract causing the expansion of the chest cavity and an influx of air into the lungs.

Each arises from the lower border of a rib, and is inserted into the upper border of the rib below. In the two lower spaces they extend to the ends of the cartilages, and in the upper two or three spaces they do not quite reach the ends of the ribs.

They are thicker than the internal intercostals, and their fibers are directed obliquely downward and laterally on the back of the thorax, and downward, forward, and medially on the front.

Variations

Continuation with the external oblique or serratus anterior: A supracostalis muscle, from the anterior end of the first rib down to the second, third or fourth ribs occasionally occurs.

Additional images

See also

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 403 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)


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