intercostal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun muscles between the ribs; they contract during inspiration
    intercostal muscle; musculus intercostalis.
  2. adjective located or occurring between the ribs
    • intercostal muscles

WordNet

In`ter*cos"tal adjective
Definitions
  1. (Anat. & Physiol.) Between the ribs; pertaining to, or produced by, the parts between the ribs; as, intercostal respiration, in which the chest is alternately enlarged and contracted by the intercostal muscles.

Webster 1913