Hoarseness can be caused by a number of conditions. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords) caused most often by an upper respiratory tract infection (usually viral), and less commonly from overuse or misuse of the voice (such as from yelling or singing). Other causes of hoarseness include: 1  benign vocal cord nodules, cysts or polyps, 2  gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), 3  allergies, 4  inhalation of respiratory tract irritants, 5  smoking, 6  thyroid problems, 7  trauma to the larynx/vocal cords, 8  neurological conditions (such as Parkinson's disease and strokes), and. 9  cancer of the larynx.
Intercostal muscles are muscle groups that are situated in between the ribs that create and move the chest wall. The muscles are broken down into three layers, and are primarily used to assist with the breathing process.hey raise the ribs and expand the chest cavity, and originate from ribs one through 11, with insertion from ribs two to 12. The internal intercostal muscles are responsible for forced exhalation. They depress the ribs and decrease space in the chest cavity.
Intercostal muscles are several groups of muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall.The intercostal muscles are mainly involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing. These muscles help expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity to facilitate breathing. The external intercostals are responsible for the elevation of the ribs and bending them more open, thus expanding the transverse dimensions of the thoracic cavity. 2  Internal intercostal muscles aid in forced expiration (quiet expiration is a passive process).