Biomaterial Database

Rib cage motion and muscle use in high tetraplegics. 1986

A De Troyer, and M Estenne, and W Vincken

In an attempt to assess the action of the sternocleidomastoid muscles on the human rib cage, we studied the pattern of rib cage motion in 2 patients with complete transection of the upper cervical cord. Measurements of rib cage motion were obtained with magnetometers and chest roentgenograms, and concentric needle electrodes were used to record the electromyograms (EMG) of various respiratory muscles. Spontaneous quiet breathing elicited a large amount of phasic inspiratory EMG activity not only in the sternocleidomastoids, but also in the trapezii, platysma, mylohyoid, and sternohyoid muscles. This pattern of muscle use was associated with substantial rib cage deformation. During spontaneous inspiration both patients showed a clear-cut decrease in lower rib cage transverse diameter, and they both had a cranial displacement of the sternum and an increase in upper rib cage anteroposterior diameter that was disproportionately larger than the increase in lower rib cage anteroposterior diameter. Radiographic measurements confirmed these deformations but also demonstrated that the upper rib cage transverse diameter increased rather than decreased with inspiration. These results indicate that: (1) Patients with high tetraplegia use many neck muscles in addition to the sternocleidomastoids to breathe; (2) The synchronous contraction of these muscles acts to pull the sternum cranially, expands the upper rib cage, and causes paradoxical inward displacement of the lateral walls of the lower rib cage; (3) As in dogs, the motion of the upper rib cage in humans is more tightly linked to the sternum than that of the lower rib cage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009333	Neck	The part of a human or animal body connecting the HEAD to the rest of the body.	Necks
D011782	Quadriplegia	Severe or complete loss of motor function in all four limbs which may result from BRAIN DISEASES; SPINAL CORD DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; or rarely MUSCULAR DISEASES. The locked-in syndrome is characterized by quadriplegia in combination with cranial muscle paralysis. Consciousness is spared and the only retained voluntary motor activity may be limited eye movements. This condition is usually caused by a lesion in the upper BRAIN STEM which injures the descending cortico-spinal and cortico-bulbar tracts.	Quadriparesis,Spastic Quadriplegia,Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegia,Flaccid Tetraplegia,Paralysis, Spinal, Quadriplegic,Spastic Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegias,Flaccid Tetraplegias,Quadripareses,Quadriplegia, Flaccid,Quadriplegia, Spastic,Quadriplegias,Quadriplegias, Flaccid,Quadriplegias, Spastic,Spastic Quadriplegias,Spastic Tetraplegias,Tetraplegia, Flaccid,Tetraplegia, Spastic,Tetraplegias,Tetraplegias, Flaccid,Tetraplegias, Spastic
D004576	Electromyography	Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes.	Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000009	Abdominal Muscles	Muscles forming the ABDOMINAL WALL including RECTUS ABDOMINIS; ABDOMINAL OBLIQUE MUSCLES, transversus abdominis, pyramidalis muscles and quadratus abdominis.	Cremaster Muscle,Pyramidalis Muscle,Quadratus Abdominis,Transverse Abdominal,Transversus Abdominis,Abdominal Muscle,Abdominal, Transverse,Abdominals, Transverse,Abdomini, Quadratus,Abdominis, Quadratus,Cremaster Muscles,Muscle, Abdominal,Muscle, Cremaster,Muscle, Pyramidalis,Muscles, Abdominal,Muscles, Cremaster,Muscles, Pyramidalis,Pyramidalis Muscles,Quadratus Abdomini,Transverse Abdominals
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults