Which observation during respiration would indicate predominant diaphragmatic movement with no chest movement?

Which observation during respiration would indicate predominant diaphragmatic movement with no chest movement?

• A. 4-diaphragm pattern with no chest movement
• B. 3-diaphragm and 1-chest
• C. 2-diaphragm and 2-chest
• D. 2-neck and 2-diaphragm

Answer: (A)

Predominant diaphragmatic breathing shows the diaphragm as the main driver of respiration, so with each breath the abdomen expands while the chest wall stays largely still. This pattern occurs when the intercostal muscles are weak or paralyzed but the diaphragm remains functional, which can happen in certain spinal cord injuries. The observation that best matches this is a pattern where the abdomen moves strongly (diaphragm-driven) and there is no chest wall movement at all, indicating the chest muscles are not contributing to ventilation. If there’s any chest movement or use of neck/upper chest muscles alongside abdominal movement, that means the chest wall is contributing to respiration, so it’s not purely diaphragmatic breathing.

Predominant diaphragmatic breathing shows the diaphragm as the main driver of respiration, so with each breath the abdomen expands while the chest wall stays largely still. This pattern occurs when the intercostal muscles are weak or paralyzed but the diaphragm remains functional, which can happen in certain spinal cord injuries. The observation that best matches this is a pattern where the abdomen moves strongly (diaphragm-driven) and there is no chest wall movement at all, indicating the chest muscles are not contributing to ventilation.

If there’s any chest movement or use of neck/upper chest muscles alongside abdominal movement, that means the chest wall is contributing to respiration, so it’s not purely diaphragmatic breathing.