[New clinical method to evaluate the ventilatory and non-ventilatory functions of respiratory muscles]

New clinical methods have been developed to evaluate the ventilatory and non-ventilatory functions of respiratory muscles. Three-dimensional stereoscopic diaphragm imaging method: Using this method we found that the diaphragm is shaped like an elliptic cylinder with an ellipsoid dome. During ventilation with relatively small tidal volume (less than 1L) the diaphragm moves like a piston keeping the same configuration. Multiphasic analysis of chest wall configuration: By observing movements at the different local regions of the chest wall, the activity of the respiratory muscles can be estimated. The non-ventilatory functions can be evaluated by the relaxation and the iso-volume lines on the Konno-Mead diagram. Deviation of the chest wall configuration from the relaxation line means a conversion of the intercostal muscles from the fixator function to the ventilatory function. The movement of the chest wall along the iso-volume line seen during coughing or talking also indicates the non-ventilatory function of the respiratory muscles which generates antigravitational forces.