Breathing Flashcards
Which posture is best for respiratory distress patients?
45 degrees - standing is ribs against gravity, lying makes it difficult to push liver down
Do abdominal muscles contract or relax during inspiration?
Relax
What are the intrinsic muscles of the chest wall?
Intercostals (internal, external, innermost)
Subcostal muscles
Transversus thoracis
Serratus posterior
What is the function of the subcostal muscles?
Aid inspiration
What is the function of the transverus thoracis muscle?
Aids expiration
What occurs during quiet breathing?
Stiffening of the intercostal space
Which neck muscles are attached to the thoracic inlet? What are their functions?
Sternocleidomastoid
Scalenes
Both aid inspiration
What is flail chest?
Segment of chest wall is isolated due to a multiple rib fracture
The segment moves in the opposite direction to the chest wall during breathing
Why do runners bend over after a race?
- Stabilise upper limb in order to recruit extrinsic breathing muscles
- Maximise breathing - no effect of gravity on the ribs
Which muscles aid inspiration?
Pectoralis major
Pectoralis minor
Serratus anterior
Neck muscles (scalenes and sternocleidomastoid)
Which muscles are involved in quiet inspiration?
Diaphragm, scalene muscles, intercostals
Which muscles are involved in forced inspiration?
Scalenes and SCM Intercostals Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor Serratus anterior Erector spinae Quadratus lumborum
Which muscles are involved in quiet expiration?
Elastic recoil of lungs/gravity/elevation of relaxed diaphragm
Intercostals
Which muscles are involved in forced expiration?
Rectus abdominis/external oblique
Intercostals
Latissimus dorsi
Transversus thoracis
