Physical Education GCSE
Intercostal muscle action
What Intercostal muscle action means in Physical Education GCSE, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Intercostal muscle action
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Reference: OCR
Muscles sitting between the ribs; on inspiration the external intercostals contract, lifting the rib cage up and outwards, and on expiration they relax and the ribs move down and in.
Topics that use Intercostal muscle action
- 1.1.d. The cardiovascular and respiratory systems - Structure and function of the respiratory system (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Alveoli
- Diaphragm structure and action
- Diffusion
- Gas exchange
- minute ventilation
- Pressure and volume changes in the thorax
- tidal volume
- Air pathway
Using Intercostal muscle action in the exam
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