Internal Intercostals

Written by Oliver Jones

Last updated November 9, 2024 • 2 Revisions

The internal intercostals are a muscle of the thoracic wall. They lie deep to the external intercostal muscles.

Their fibres are orientated in an inferior and posterior direction.

  • Attachments: Originates from the lateral edge of the costal groove and inserts onto the superior surface of the rib below.
  • Actions: Stablises the position of the ribs during normal respiration. Depresses the ribs and decreases the thoracic volume during forced expiration.
  • Innervation: Intercostal nerves (T1-T11).
  • Blood supply: Anterior and posterior intercostal arteries

Fig 1
The external and internal intercostals of the thoracic wall.

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