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marissaco's avatar

The help that muscles give for breathing?

Asked by marissaco (18points) April 19th, 2010

Can you describe? I’m clueless! By the way this isn’t homework. I’m working on this topic (breathing) in school but it isn’t homework. I don’t understand how your muscles give you help with breathing so please explain.

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4 Answers

rangerr's avatar

Homework?

gasman's avatar

The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle and accounts for most, if not all, of normal tidal breathing. There are so-called accessory muscles of breathing, such as the intercostals (between the ribs) and neck & shoulder muscles, that may contribute to breathing if necessary.

The ribs curve around like the handle of a bucket. When pulled & raised by accessory muscles, the volume of the chest cavity is increased, which helps fill the lungs independent of the diaphragm moving downward.

Accessory muscles come into play mostly in abnormal conditions, but also work at a low level in normal breathing.

shilolo's avatar

@gasman summarized the physiology nicely. You can learn more here.

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