Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Repeated Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Activity and Ventilation in Mouse Models of Neuromuscular Disease
Published on: April 17, 2017
Assessment of respiratory muscle effort studying diaphragm movement registered with surface sensors. Animal model
1Department ESAII, Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
The diaphragm movement (DM) signal during spontaneous ventilations is analyzed in this work. The DM signal is acquired by means two surface sensors (a piezoelectric contact sensor -PCS- and a piezoelectric accelerometer -ACP) applied on the costal wall. The main objective is to develop a new non invasive technique to assess respiratory muscle effort. Experiments were performed in an animal model: four pentobarbital-anesthetized and two awake mongrel dogs, carrying out spontaneous ventilations against an inspiratory load. DM signal has been decomposed in two components: a low frequency component (lower than 5 Hz) due to the overall lateral movement of the muscle (MOV component), and a high frequency component (higher than 5 Hz) due to the lateral vibration of active muscle fibers (VIB component). It has been seen that the PCS acquires only MOV components of MD signal, while ACP acquires both components. Positive high correlation coefficients have been found between amplitude parameters of VIB components of DM signal, acquired by means the ACP, and the respiratory muscle effort during ventilation, measured with inspiratory pressures.
Related Concept Videos
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...
