Anatomy-Lexicon

The chest breathing

definition

The chest breathing (Chest breathing) is a form of external breathing. It is used to exchange breathable air by ventilating the lungs (ventilation). With chest breathing, this ventilation takes place through the expansion and contraction of the chest.

With this form of breathing, the ribs rise and fall visibly, and they also give way outwards. Your movements come from the tension (contraction) and relaxation of the intercostal muscles.

A mixture of chest breathing and the other form of breathing, abdominal breathing, is usually used unconsciously.

Find out more at: Human breathing

How does chest breathing work?

The chest breathing (Chest breathing) is used for external breathing and thus for the exchange of breathable air. In contrast, internal respiration is a form of energy production at the cellular level.

More information can be found here: Cellular respiration in humans

External breathing is used to supply the body with vital oxygen. At the same time, carbon dioxide, which is produced when the cells generate energy, is released into the environment. The exchange of air takes place in the lungs. The lungs must always be adequately ventilated so that it can run smoothly.

With chest breathing, this happens through the interplay of expanding and contracting the chest. Mainly the ribs and the intercostal muscles are involved (Intercostal muscles). When there is an increased need for oxygen or acute shortness of breath, the so-called auxiliary respiratory muscles also support the thorax movement.

On inhalation (inspiration) the external intercostal muscles (External intercostal muscle) together. This lifts the ribs and turns them outwards. The thorax expands. Since the lungs are over the pleura (Pleura) is connected to the rib cage, it follows this movement. The lungs also expand, their volume increases. This creates a negative pressure. More air now flows through the airways into the lungs to compensate for the negative pressure. This is where the actual inhalation takes place.
The exhalation (Expiration) is possible with normal, not exerted breathing without supporting muscles. The lungs have a so-called self-elasticity. This means that it consists of tissue that strives to contract as much as possible. If the external intercostal muscles relax, the lungs are no longer held wide. It follows its own elasticity and contracts. This creates an overpressure that drives the air out of the lungs. So there is exhalation.

Normal, unconscious breathing consists of a mixture of chest breathing and abdominal breathing.

Chest breathing disorders

Chest breathing can be a result of illness unnaturally strong or frequent occur.

Is breathing difficult (Dyspnea), the proportion of chest breathing increases and that of abdominal breathing decreases. In case of severe shortness of breath (Orthopnea) the auxiliary breathing muscles are also used. People who suffer from orthopnea, often sit upright, have the Arms propped up and breathe hard. Such shortness of breath can be triggered by a wide variety of factors. On the one hand through diseases of the lungs such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, pulmonary embolism or pneumonia (Pneumonia). But also heart problems such as the heart failure (Heart failure), Heart valve defects or heart attacks can lead to it.

Learn more about: Diseases of the lungs

Is the Abdominal breathing impaired, increased chest breathing takes over its function. This can e.g. if you have swelling of the liver or spleen, but also if you are pregnant or very overweight (Obesity) be the case.
The increased chest breathing can also be a sign of psychological problems. So she steps e.g. in fast, deep breathing (hyperventilation). This can be a sign of Panic attacks or Anxiety disorders be. Chest breathing also increases in some cases with depression. Since chest breathing from the body is particularly important when the demands are high, such as Stress, if used, can also be a sign of a high level of stress. There too strong pain Cause stress, chest breathing increases in this case too.
Chest breathing can also be directly affected by a disease. This is e.g. the case when the muscles in the chest that are needed for chest breathing are tight. Excessive strain on chest breathing during a lot of stress can overstrain the muscles and make them tense. In addition, you can Skeletal malformations, Bad posture and Sedentary lifestyle lead to tension. These can sometimes be very painful and even to one Feeling short of breath to lead. Targeted exercise, strengthening the muscles and relaxation techniques help in these cases.
This form of breathing is also restricted if the muscles involved in chest breathing are damaged. This is how muscle weaknesses spread (Muscular atrophies) also target these muscles.
A muscle can also regress if the nerve that normally supplies it fails. The main muscles of chest breathing, the external intercostal muscles, are supplied by many nerves (nervi intercostales). If only one fails, the neighboring nerves take over supplying the affected muscles. However, if several nerves are affected, breathing problems can occur.

You might also be interested in: Pain on inhalation

What is diaphragmatic breathing?

As diaphragmatic breathing (Diaphargical breathing, Abdominal breathing) is a form of breath. It is characterized by the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm. During diaphragmatic breathing, the abdominal wall rises and falls visibly.

The diaphragm contracts to inhale. This moves it downwards. The pleura that has grown together with it follows this movement. This creates a negative pressure in the space between the lungs and the diaphragm. Following this negative pressure, the lungs expand and air flows in.

The lungs constantly strive to contract (inherent elasticity). Following this inherent elasticity, it becomes smaller again as soon as the diaphragm relaxes. The diaphragm moves upwards in the body. Abdominal breathing did most of the breathing at rest. It is supported by the second form of breathing, abdominal breathing.

You can find detailed information on our main page: The diaphragmatic breathing

What is the difference to abdominal breathing?

A distinction is made between two types of breathing, chest and abdominal breathing. Both forms occur in normal breathing at rest. Abdominal breathing predominates.

The two types of breathing differ in the muscles involved. Chest breathing is mainly performed by the intercostal muscles, with higher demands being connected to auxiliary breathing muscles in the shoulder, neck, back and abdominal area. The negative pressure in the space between the pleura and the lungs, which is necessary for breathing in, is achieved here by expanding the chest.

During abdominal breathing (Diaphragmatic breathing) is mainly the diaphragm (Diaphragm) active. Breathing can be supported here by the abdominal muscles. During abdominal breathing, the negative pressure arises from the fact that the diaphragm contracts and shifts downwards in the body.

The two forms of breathing also differ in their energy consumption:

Abdominal breathing requires less energy because fewer muscles are active.
In addition, chest breathing is more likely to be used during tension and activity.
Abdominal breathing dominates in rest and relaxation. Therefore, breathing deeply into your stomach can be relaxing. Abdominal breathing is also easier to control than chest breathing. That's why she plays e.g. at Singers and Musicians, but also with some Martial arts, a major role.

Which muscles are involved in chest breathing?

The muscles involved in chest breathing are muscles of the so-called skeletal muscles. The muscles can thus be controlled at will. The muscles involved in breathing are divided into respiratory and auxiliary respiratory muscles. The separation of these two muscle groups is not always sharp.

The auxiliary respiratory muscles are used to increase breathing Shortness of breath or increased oxygen demand.

Chest breathing muscles

The following muscles belong to the respiratory muscles:

The external intercostal muscles (External intercostal muscles) are involved in breast augmentation even at rest. They run diagonally between the ribs and can lift them and turn them outwards. They are used for inhalation (inspiration). The exhalation normally takes place without muscle support.
During exertion with increased energy requirements and higher levels of carbon dioxide, however, exhalation should be accelerated. The inner intercostal muscles serve this purpose (Intercostals interni muscles, intercostales intimi muscles). These muscles also run obliquely between the ribs, but in the opposite direction to the outer intercostal muscles.
The subcostales muscle, which is derived from the internal intercostal muscles, also fulfills this function.
In addition, the transversus thoracis muscle, which runs from the back of the sternum to the ribs, helps with exhalation.

Muscles of the auxiliary respiratory muscles

The auxiliary breathing muscles are subdivided according to whether they support inhalation or exhalation.

At the breathe in The pectoralis major muscle is particularly helpful.
The pectoral muscle Musculuc pectoralis minor also has this function.
The serratus anterior muscle, which runs from the ribs to the scapula, also helps with inhalation. These muscles usually pull the shoulder girdle towards the ribs and up the chest. Is the shoulder girdle fixed, e.g. by propped up arms (e.g. in the driver's seat), the muscles can use all their strength to lift the chest. As a result, they support inhalation in the driver's seat even more.
Neck muscles can also help with inhalation. E.g. the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which runs from the sternum to the collarbone and head. When contracting, it can lift the chest.
The scalene muscles, which can be divided into posterior, anterior and middle muscles, have the same function. They move from the cervical vertebrae to the ribs.
In addition, the back muscle serratus posterior superior is used for assisted inhalation. It pulls from the cervical and thoracic vertebrae to the ribs.
In a broader sense, the muscle cord that runs along the spine and helps to straighten up (erector spinae muscle) is counted among the auxiliary breathing muscles that support inhalation.

Muscles used for exhalation

Exhalation is mainly supported by the abdominal muscles. This is also known as the so-called. Abdominal press. They include:

The rectus abdominis muscle and the transversus abdominis muscle, which also form the abdominal wall, are involved in exhalation. These muscles also include the internus abdominis and the externus abdominis. They run diagonally along the side of the stomach.
The quadratus lumborum muscle, which can fix the 12th and thus the last rib, also supports expiration.
In addition, two back muscles help with exhalation: one is the serratus posterior inferior muscle, which pulls from the spine to the lower ribs. The latissimus dorsi muscle, which runs in the shape of a triangle over the lower back to the shoulder blade, also has this function. It is particularly active when coughing and is therefore also known as the cough muscle.