Ventilatory muscle

"Ventilatory muscles" is a collective term for the skeletal muscles responsible for generating the mechanical forces required for breathing. The primary ventilatory muscles include the diaphragm and intercostal muscles; accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, abdominal wall, and certain back/shoulder girdle muscles may also contribute during increased respiratory demand or dysfunction. These muscles contract to expand or compress the thoracic cavity—diaphragm contraction lowers intrathoracic pressure by flattening its dome shape; intercostals move the rib cage; abdominal wall contraction aids forced expiration. They are composed mainly of fatigue-resistant fibers but can be affected by neuromuscular diseases or fatigue states that impair ventilation[1][5][6].\n\nNote: "Ventilatory muscle" is not a single molecule/receptor but rather an anatomical/functional group of skeletal muscles involved in breathing. It does not fit standard definitions of molecular drug targets such as receptors, enzymes, ion channels, or transporters. Therefore:\n\n- is_target: false — Not considered a therapeutic target at molecular level.\n- is_incorrect: true — This entry refers to an anatomical group rather than a specific molecule/receptor.\n\nIf you require information on specific molecular targets within ventilatory control (e.g., nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at neuromuscular junction), please specify further.

Other names

Respiratory muscleBreathing pump muscleMuscle of respiration