Definition

Noun: * Intercostal muscle: Any of the short muscles that extend between adjacent ribs, forming part of the wall of the thorax. Their primary function is to assist in the mechanical process of breathing by elevating and depressing the ribs.

Usage

The term "intercostal muscle" is used in anatomical, medical, and biological contexts to describe these specific chest wall muscles. It is typically modified by "external" or "internal" to specify the layer. * The external intercostal muscles are involved in inspiration (inhaling). * The internal intercostal muscles are involved in forced expiration (exhaling).

Examples

• During strenuous exercise, the intercostal muscles work harder to expand the rib cage.
• A sharp pain in the intercostal muscle can result from coughing too violently.
• The doctor explained that the strain was in one of his external intercostal muscles.

Advanced Usage

• "Intercostal neuralgia": Pain that follows the path of a nerve between the ribs, often related to irritation of the nerves that run alongside the intercostal muscles.
• "Intercostal space": The anatomical space between two adjacent ribs, which contains the intercostal muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.

Variants and Related Words

• Intercostal (adjective): Pertaining to the area between the ribs.
  • Example: The scan showed an intercostal blood vessel.
• External intercostal muscle (noun phrase): The outer layer of intercostal muscles.
• Internal intercostal muscle (noun phrase): The deeper layer of intercostal muscles.
• Innermost intercostal muscle (noun phrase): The deepest, often inconsistently present, layer.

Synonyms

• Intercostal (when used as a noun in specific anatomical contexts).
• Rib muscle (a less precise, non-technical term).

Noun

1. muscles between the ribs; they contract during inspiration