The respiratory activity of human levator costae muscles and its modification by posture

The activation of the levator costae, a set of axial muscles inserted between each rib and the vertebra immediately rostral, has been studied electromyographically in a human subject, standing upright, with head erect ('neutral' posture). Caudal levator costae muscles (T9, and T10) are active during eupnoea. Periodic activity in phase with inspiration occurs in admixture with different levels of tonic activity that is strongly influenced by posture. Postural changes and various voluntary respiratory manoeuvres which should lengthen or shorten the levator costae muscles increase and decrease, respectively, their activity in the 'neutral' posture. The tonic activity was most readily enhanced by contralateral flexion of the spine, and this could bring to threshold phasic activity not otherwise present. Conversely, ipsilateral flexion could abolish both phasic and tonic components. Active expiratory efforts and static voluntary relaxation of the respiratory muscles could diminish or abolish levator costae activity. Paradoxically, chest-directed inspiratory efforts maintained at elevated lung volume with open glottis could also diminish or abolish levator costae activity. We attribute this to shortening of the levator costae muscles and unloading of their muscle spindles by the elevation of the ribs due to the action of the external intercostal and parasternal muscles. The results are discussed in relation to the mechanical coupling between the diaphragm and the lower rib cage; emphasis is given to the possible independent motions of the lower two or three ribs and the abductor action of their corresponding levator costae muscles, based on anatomico-physiological considerations.