What is the difference to abdominal breathing? | The chest breathing

What is the difference to abdominal breathing?

A distinction is made between two forms of breathing, thoracic and abdominal breathing. During normal breathing at rest both forms take place. The abdominal breathing predominates.

The two types of breathing differ in the muscles involved. Chest breathing is mainly performed by the muscles between the ribs, with higher demands, breathing support muscles in the shoulder, neck, back and abdominal area follow. The negative pressure in the space between the pleura and the lungs, which is necessary for inhalation, is achieved here by expanding the rib cage.

In abdominal breathing (diaphragmatic breathing), the diaphragm is the most active part of the body. Breathing can be supported here by the abdominal muscles. The negative pressure in abdominal breathing is caused by the diaphragm contracting and shifting downwards in the body.

The two forms of breathing also differ in their energy consumption:

• Abdominal breathing requires less energy because fewer muscles are active. – In addition, chest breathing is used more for tension and activity. – In rest and relaxation, abdominal breathing dominates.

Therefore, breathing deep into the abdomen can have a relaxing effect. Abdominal breathing can also be better controlled than chest breathing. That is why it plays an important role for singers and musicians, but also for some martial arts.

Which muscles belong to the chest breathing?

The muscles involved in chest breathing are muscles of the so-called skeletal muscles. The muscles can therefore be controlled arbitrarily. The muscles involved in breathing are divided into respiratory and respiratory auxiliary muscles.

The separation of these two muscle groups is not always sharp. The respiratory assistance muscles are used to increase breathing in cases of respiratory distress or increased oxygen demand. The following muscles belong to the respiratory musculature: The auxiliary respiratory muscles are divided according to whether they support inhalation or exhalation.

The exhalation is mainly supported by abdominal muscles. This is also known as the so-called abdominal press. One of them is the abdominal press:

• The external intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales externi) are also involved in chest impingement at rest.

They run diagonally between the ribs and can lift them and turn them outwards. In this way they serve for inhalation (inspiration). Exhalation normally takes place without muscle support.

• However, exhalation should be accelerated during exertion with an increased energy requirement and a higher accumulation of carbon dioxide. The inner intercostal muscles (Musculi intercostales interni, Musculi intercostales intimi) serve this purpose. These muscles also run diagonally between the ribs, but in the opposite direction to the outer intercostal muscles.
• The subcostales muscle, which originates from the inner intercostal muscles, also fulfils this function. – In addition, the Musculus transversus thoracis, which runs from the back of the sternum to the ribs, supports exhalation. – When breathing in, the pectoralis major muscle is particularly helpful.
• The pectoralis minor muscle also has this function. – The musculus serratus anterior, which runs from the ribs to the shoulder blade, also supports inhalation. These muscles normally pull the shoulder girdle towards the ribs and the chest upwards.

If the shoulder girdle is fixed, e.g. by supported arms (e.g. in a carriage seat), the muscles can use all their strength to lift the rib cage. In this way they support the inhalation even more strongly in the coachman’s seat.

• Neck muscles can also help with inhalation. For example, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which moves from the sternum to the collarbone and head. When contracted, it can lift the rib cage.
• The scalene muscles have the same function and can be divided into posterior, anterior and middle muscles. They pull from the cervical vertebrae to the ribs. – In addition, the dorsal muscle, Musculus serratus posterior superior, serves to assist inhalation.

It moves from the cervical and thoracic vertebrae to the ribs. – In a broader sense, the muscle strand that runs along the spine and helps to straighten it up (Musculus erector spinae) is also counted among the respiratory muscles that support inhalation. – The musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus transversus abdominis, which also form the abdominal wall, are involved in exhalation.

In addition, the internal abdominal oblique muscle and the external abdominal oblique muscle are also counted among these muscles. They run diagonally along the lateral abdomen. – The musculus quadratus lumborum, which can fix the 12th and thus last rib, also supports expiration.

• In addition, two back muscles help with expiration: firstly, the musculus serratus posterior inferior, which moves from the spine to the lower ribs. The latissimus dorsi muscle, which extends in the form of a triangle across the lower back to the shoulder blade, also has this function. It is particularly active when coughing and is therefore also called the cough muscle.