Airway Support Structures
• Ventilation muscles
– Intercostal muscles
• Used only during exercise, exertion, distress along with
accessory muscles, not used during quiet breathing
– Diaphragm
• Most important for ventilation
• When contracted, abdominal contents are pushed
downward, intercostal muscles move ribs upward AND
outward, which increases volume and decreases
pressure in the thoracic cavity