Sternum dependence of rib displacement during breathing.

The parasternal intercostals are the primary determinant of the inspiratory cranial displacement of the ribs in the dog. When they contract, however, these muscles also cause a caudal displacement of the sternum, presumably an expiratory motion. The present studies were designed to assess the effects of this sternal displacement on the cranial displacement of the ribs and on lung volume. Twelve supine anesthetized animals were studied. We first measured, in four paralyzed animals, the displacement of the ribs and sternum produced by known external forces applied to the ribs, the sternum, or both simultaneously. From these measurements, the elastic coupling between the ribs and sternum was determined. We then studied, in eight animals, the effect of sternal motion on rib motion and tidal volume during spontaneous breathing. Rib and sternal displacements and tidal volume were measured first with the sternum free to move caudally during inspiration and then with the sternum constrained to prevent caudal motion. Preventing the sternum from moving caudally caused a 24% increase in the inspiratory cranial displacement of the ribs; this increased displacement of the ribs agreed well with the elastic coupling between the sternum and the ribs as determined from the force-displacement observations. Tidal volume, however, remained unchanged. These observations indicate that the caudal displacement of the sternum produced by the parasternal intercostals reduces the cranial displacement of the ribs but probably increases the lateral expansion of the rib cage.