The intercostal membranes
Intercostal membranes
Thin sheets that continue the rib muscles where muscle fibres run out.
What it does
Where the outer and inner rib muscles thin out at the front and back of the chest, they continue as thin membranes between the ribs. These sheets keep the chest wall sealed and stiff as you breathe.
Surprising fact
Each membrane is a continuation of a muscle layer, so the chest wall is sealed even where there is no muscle.
Why it matters
An intact chest wall is vital for breathing, because the lungs inflate only when the chest expands as a sealed unit.
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.