US Medical Term · anatomy
Intercostal Muscles
Músculos intercostales
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Intercostal Muscles |
| Spanish (Español) | Músculos intercostales |
| Chinese (中文) | 肋間肌 |
| Korean (한국어) | 늑간근 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Cơ liên sườn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Intercostal na kalamnan |
| Portuguese (Português) | Músculos intercostais |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กล้ามเนื้อระหว่างซี่โครง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 肋間筋 |
What it means
The intercostal muscles are the muscles that fill the spaces between the ribs — intercostal means between the ribs. There are three layers of these muscles on each side of the chest. They play a vital role in breathing: the external intercostal muscles help expand the rib cage when you inhale, drawing air into the lungs, while the internal intercostals help compress the rib cage when you exhale forcefully. Between each pair of ribs runs an intercostal nerve, artery, and vein. Shingles — the reactivation of the chickenpox virus — can affect the intercostal nerves and cause a painful, burning rash that follows the line of a rib, a condition called postherpetic neuralgia.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I pulled an intercostal muscle while coughing and now it hurts with every breath.
Me jalé un músculo intercostal al toser y ahora me duele con cada respiración.
My doctor said the burning pain along my ribs is from the shingles affecting my intercostal nerve.
Mi médico dijo que el dolor ardiente a lo largo de las costillas es por el herpes zóster que afecta el nervio intercostal.
The breathing exercises help me use my intercostal muscles more efficiently.
Los ejercicios de respiración me ayudan a usar los músculos intercostales con mayor eficiencia.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026