Muscles of the thoracic wall: want to learn more about it?
Our engaging videos, interactive quizzes, in-depth articles and HD atlas are here to get you top results faster.
What do you prefer to learn with?
“I would honestly say that Kenhub cut my study time in half.”
–
Read more.
Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver
Muscles of the thoracic wall
Learning objectives
After going through this study unit you will be able to:
- Identify and name the muscles of the thoracic wall.
- Describe their attachment points and innervation patterns.
- Understand the anatomic relations between the muscles.
Watch video
The muscles of the thoracic wall are defined as muscles attached to the bony framework of the thoracic cage. They maintain the stability of the thoracic wall, and play a role in respiration. The muscles of the thoracic wall include the following muscle groups:
- Serratus posterior muscles
- Levatores costarum muscles
- Intercostal muscles
- Subcostal muscles
- Transversus thoracis muscles
Note that some of the muscles of the pectoral girdle and neck, such as the pectoralis major and minor or the scalene muscles, also aid in respiration. However, from an anatomical point of view, the true muscles of the thoracic wall are those listed above.
The following video will introduce you to the anterior trunk muscles in general, with an emphasis on a few specific muscle groups of the thoracic wall.
Take a quiz
Summarize everything you've learned through our quiz.
Challenging yourself never gets old! Try out our custom quiz and test your knowledge with the questions about the thoracic wall.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/1782/zgvhO2miZcLHZUdGPnKUfA_ventral-trunk-muscles_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Revise the anatomy and relations of these muscles with our gallery.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/chest-wall/mCo2RuxbpQTwGmWnKomQ_Chest_wall_1.png "Thoracic wall (Paries thoracis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/external-intercostal-muscles/KgvHVds4KmLjMc2yGFCnw_Musculi_intercostales_externi_2.png "External intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales externi); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculi-intercostales-interni/t6JkPl9P0vkXBl3kQJtc4w_Musculi_intercostales_interni_01.png "Internal intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales interni); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculi-levatores-costarum/izv0WZUmf6qRMIoeIVqrbg_1123_levatores_costarum_po.png "Levatores costarum muscles (Musculi levatores costarum); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculi-subcostales/8PonCIRvdah9cDq5LiFyg_Musculi_subcostales_01.png "Subcostal muscles (Musculi subcostales); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/serratus-posterior-inferior-muscle/Gk4b2W7kJhwyRWYrqcopQ_Musculus_serratus_posterior_inferior_2.png "Serratus posterior inferior muscle (Musculus serratus posterior inferior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/serratus-posterior-superior-muscle/DBBSiUIZkkJR8qpWdTubVw_810_M._serratur_posterior_superior_FKT_Korrektur.png "Serratus posterior superior muscle (Musculus serratus posterior superior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculi-transversus-thoracis/IfQmCrTCKMXB3vbMzA0w_Musculi_transversus_thoracis_01.png "Transversus thoracis muscle (Musculus transversus thoracis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/external-intercostal-muscles-10/bBld9vQVXEECSIaYeAHQA_External_intercostal_muscle.png "External intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales externi); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/internal-intercostal-muscles-11/LtaCgb6v0jejQUGnHfvLw_Internal_intercostal_muscle.png "Internal intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales interni); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/innermost-intercostal-muscles/bti3SlNcgaGaptfyjTWYog_Innermost_intercostal_muscle.png "Innermost intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales intimi); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Muscles | Serratus posterior muscles (superior, inferior) Levatores costarum muscles Intercostal muscles (external, internal, innermost) Subcostal muscles Transversus thoracis muscles |
| Innervation | Thoracic nerves, intercostal nerves |
| Function | Accessory respiratory muscles, support and stabilize thoracic cage |
Well done!
Related articles
:format(jpeg)/images/article/en/thorax/mclWkQIq5pRd2e0WEih0FA_Thorax_Thumbnail_02.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/article/en/muscles-of-the-trunk/GPkCXcRA3ZEzKGCoHzOMLQ_Ventral_trunk_muscles.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/article/en/intercostal-muscles/RkCb2g9sWltEuYwrWZMKg_External_intercostal_muscles.png)
Continue your learning
Now that you have mastered the muscles of the thoracic wall, it's time to learn all about the associated neurovascular structures.
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/nerves-and-vessels-thoracic-wall/6zl6Q284czMIrapfn2tmEg_neurovasculature_of_the_thorax_and_the_abdomen.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/arteries-nerves-back-superolateral-view/6MzyKpLtLT8durPMm0lqw_superolateral.png)