Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment. Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice.
Intercostal retractions occur when the muscles between the ribs pull inward. The movement is most often a sign that the person has a breathing problem. Intercostal retractions are a medical emergency.
The intercostal muscles lie between the ribs. When you exhale, these muscles contract, and in conjunction with the abdominal muscles, the lungs contract and air is forced up v â¦ ia a positive pressure gradient.here are three levels of intercostal muscles all situated between the ribs. The layers are named according to depth into the thorax, the outer (or external) intercostal being the most superficial the inner (or internal) intercostals being in the middle and the innermost intercostal being the deepest.