External intercostal muscle

Looks like

The outer layer of short muscles between neighbouring ribs, fibres slanting down and forward.

What it does

Lift the ribs to widen the chest when breathing in.

Keeping it well

Powered by the intercostal nerves. Pulled after coughing or twisting; sharp chest pain with breathlessness needs urgent care.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus